The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has significantly expanded its digital offerings, allowing members to generate, activate, and authenticate their Universal Account Number (UAN) directly through the UMANG mobile application. This initiative, announced by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, leverages Aadhaar-based face authentication to streamline access to essential provident fund services.
The move aims to reduce the dependence on physical or manual verification processes, making EPFO services more accessible and user-friendly for millions of members. Once a UAN is generated and activated, members can utilize it to check their EPF balance, download their passbook, track claim statuses, and update Know Your Customer (KYC) details, all from their mobile device.
New UAN Generation Through UMANG
For employees entering the EPF system for the first time, generating a UAN via the UMANG app is now a straightforward process. To use this feature, members require:
- A valid Aadhaar number.
- An Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- The Aadhaar Face RD application installed on their device.
Steps to Generate a New UAN:
- Open the UMANG app and select the “UAN Allotment and Activation” option.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Provide consent for Aadhaar validation and request an OTP.
- Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- The system will check if an existing UAN is linked to the Aadhaar. If no UAN is found, proceed to face authentication.
- Provide consent for face authentication, then perform a face scan using the Aadhaar authentication system.
- Upon successful verification, a new UAN will be generated and sent to your registered mobile number via SMS.
Activating an Existing UAN
Members who already possess a UAN but have not yet activated it can do so through the UMANG app.
Steps to Activate an Existing UAN:
- On the UMANG app, choose the “UAN Activation” option.
- Enter your UAN, Aadhaar number, and mobile number.
- Provide consent for Aadhaar validation and complete OTP verification.
- Proceed with face authentication through the UIDAI system.
- After successful verification, your UAN will be activated, and you will receive your UAN along with a temporary password via SMS. The EPFO database will also be updated with your verified photograph and address.
Face Authentication for Already Activated UANs
The UMANG app also includes an option for “Face Authentication of Already Activated UANs.” This allows existing members to re-verify their identity, after which the UIDAI system validates their identity and fetches relevant Aadhaar and UAN information. The verified details automatically update EPFO records, minimizing the need for repetitive authentication procedures.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Users may encounter issues such as invalid Aadhaar or mobile details, OTP failures, unsuccessful face authentication, or notifications of an existing UAN. In such instances, users are advised to re-enter their details, resend the OTP, or retry the face authentication process. If problems persist, contacting EPFO support may be necessary.
Developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the National e-Governance Division, the UMANG app integrates numerous government services onto a single platform. This expansion of UAN functionality represents a significant step towards a fully digital and self-service model for key EPFO processes.