EPFO’s UAN services now available on mobile:Create activate a new UAN through the UMANG app

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, or EPFO, has expanded its digital services on the UMANG app. PF account holders can now generate, activate, and authenticate their Universal Account Number, or UAN, using Aadhaar-based face authentication directly from their mobile phones. The organisation’s initiative aims to make access to EPFO services easier and eliminate dependence on physical or manual verification. The Ministry of Labour and Employment announced this on the social media platform X, stating that members can now get their UAN allotted, activated, and authenticated directly through the UMANG app. Once the UAN is activated, members can access various services from the comfort of their homes, including checking their EPF balance, downloading their passbook, tracking claim status, and updating KYC details. How to Generate and Activate a New UAN This facility is particularly beneficial for employees joining the EPF system for the first time. To create a new UAN, an employee must have a valid Aadhaar number, an Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and the ‘Aadhaar Face RD’ application. Existing UAN Holders Can Also Activate It Using a Mobile Employees whose UAN has already been generated but has not yet been activated can use the ‘UAN Activation’ option available on the UMANG app. To do so, users will need to enter their UAN, Aadhaar number, and mobile number and provide consent. After completing OTP verification, the face authentication process must be completed through the UIDAI system. Once verification is complete, the UAN will be activated. The employee will receive the UAN and a temporary password via SMS. In addition, the employee’s verified photograph and address will be automatically updated in the EPFO database. Face Authentication Facility for Activated UANs For members whose UAN is already activated, the app provides the option “Face Authentication of Already Activated UANs.” Through this process, members will provide their consent and complete face authentication. After this, the UIDAI system will verify their identity and retrieve the relevant information linked to their Aadhaar and UAN. The verified details will be used to automatically update EPFO records, eliminating the need for separate authentication. What to do if authentication fails? Some technical issues may occur during the process on the app, such as an incorrect Aadhaar or mobile number, not receiving the OTP, face authentication failure, or a message indicating that a UAN already exists. In such cases, users can re-enter their details, request the OTP again, or try the face scan once more. If the problem persists, members are advised to contact the helpdesk or support team. The UMANG app has been developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). It brings several government services together on a single digital platform. With this new EPFO service, key PF-related tasks have now become entirely digital and follow a self-service model. Knowledge Section: What is the ‘Aadhaar Face RD’ app and how does it work? Aadhaar Face RD (Facial Authentication Technology) is an official app developed by UIDAI. It eliminates the need for users to have a biometric device such as a fingerprint or iris scanner. It uses only the front camera of your smartphone to perform a live facial scan and instantly verifies your identity by matching it with the UIDAI database.