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From August 2025, EPFO members can create and activate their UAN with face recognition on the Umang app, making PF access quicker, simpler and error-free
The introduction of facial recognition technology eliminates any errors in names, mobile numbers, and other personal details during UAN creation, ensuring a smoother and more accurate process. (News18)
Great news for millions of Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members: from August 1, 2025, creating and activating your Universal Account Number (UAN) will be easier than ever. By simply scanning your face using the Umang app, you can now complete the entire process with greater convenience and accuracy.
The UAN is a unique identifier essential for withdrawing PF funds, checking balances, or updating your information.
Three New Services Now Available On Umang App
EPFO has launched three new services via the Umang app:
- Create and instantly activate a new UAN
- Activate an already created but inactive UAN
- Use your active UAN through facial recognition technology
To use these services, all you need is your Aadhaar card and the Umang app, which is freely available on the Google Play Store.
This enables members to manage their PF accounts entirely on their smartphones without requiring any assistance. Moreover, companies can also utilise the app to create UANs and download UAN cards in PDF format, streamlining their administrative processes.
How To Activate Your UAN Using Face Recognition
The process is simple:
- Open the Umang app and select the ‘UAN Allotment and Activation’ option.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to it.
- Provide your consent and then click ‘Send OTP’.
- After entering the OTP received on your phone for verification, you may be asked to download the Aadhaar Face RD app if it’s not already installed.
- Next, select the face recognition option; the app’s camera will scan your face much like the DigiYatra system used at airports.
- When the green border appears on your screen, indicating a successful match with your Aadhaar data, your UAN will be generated and sent via SMS to your registered mobile number.
Eliminating Errors And Enhancing Convenience
This new facility represents a significant relief for employees. Previously, companies were responsible for submitting employee data to EPFO for UAN creation, often leading to errors in names, mobile numbers, and other personal details.
The introduction of facial recognition technology eliminates these mistakes, ensuring a smoother and more accurate process. Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised this as a major digital advancement for employees.
Growing Adoption And Activation Rates Expected
In the financial year 2024-25, 1.27 crore UANs were created, but only 35% of these were activated. This lag has posed challenges for many employees in accessing their provident fund benefits.
The new technology is expected to encourage more members to activate their UANs promptly, saving time and making PF-related services more accessible and reliable.
The Bigger Picture: A Boost To Digital India
This initiative is part of EPFO’s ongoing efforts to digitise its services and simplify employee benefits management.
By leveraging biometric technology and mobile apps, EPFO aims to bring greater transparency and efficiency to the process, helping employees take control of their retirement savings effortlessly.
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