Patna: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has taken a big step towards making its services easier and more modern by introducing a new Face Authentication Technology system. Under this new facility, employees can now generate and activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) by just taking a selfie. This selfie is matched with the person’s Aadhaar details, allowing EPFO to confirm their identity without any paperwork or company involvement. The move is expected to benefit millions of workers across India who depend on their provident fund for future financial security.
Earlier, getting a UAN was not always simple. Employees had to rely on their employers to generate it for them, and this often led to delays, mistakes in personal details and repeated visits to offices to get things corrected. Many workers were unable to use online EPFO services because their UAN was either not generated on time or was not properly activated. According to EPFO regional commissioner Hemant Kumar, these problems made the system stressful and confusing for employees, which is why the organisation decided to introduce a self-service model.
With the new Face ID-based system, the entire process has become quick and direct. An employee only needs an Aadhaar-linked mobile number and access to the EPFO’s digital platform. By taking a live selfie, the system verifies the person’s identity through face recognition technology. Once the verification is successful, the UAN is created and activated automatically. This means the employee can immediately start using services such as checking their provident fund balance, transferring money when changing jobs, or submitting claims online.
This digital change is part of the government’s larger effort to make public services more transparent, secure and user-friendly. For workers, especially those who move between jobs or work in smaller companies, the new system gives them more control over their own provident fund accounts. By cutting out delays and middlemen, EPFO’s selfie-based UAN facility promises a smoother, faster and more reliable way for employees to manage their retirement savings.
