Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 2026: Key Considerations For Private Employers

On 29 June 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 2026¹ (hereinafter ‘Scheme’) under Section 15 of the Code on Social Security, 2020², formally replacing the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952³. At first glance, the notification appears to be a significant legislative shift. However, a closer reading reveals that the Scheme is less a departure from the existing provident fund regime and more a continuation of it under a new statutory framework.

For most private employers, the core obligations relating to provident fund contributions, employee membership and record maintenance remain substantially unchanged. The more meaningful changes lie in the Scheme’s emphasis on digital compliance, its alignment with the Code on Social Security, 2020⁴, and a more balanced enforcement framework that seeks to encourage compliance rather than merely penalise default.