EPFO Glossary: UAN, EPS, EDLI, ECR and Other PF Terms

By Kusum · Reviewed by Harish, Labour Consultant, Delhi on 9 Nov 2026 · Updated 5 Nov 2026

Independent guide by India Customer Care. We are not EPFO. Use only the official EPFO portals and the UMANG app for your account, and never share your password or OTP with anyone.

Short forms and terms

ATM: Automated Teller Machine

A cash machine.

CAPTCHA: Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

A small test, here a simple sum, that stops automated spam on forms.

CBT: Central Board of Trustees

EPFO's top decision-making body, chaired by the Labour Minister. It recommends the interest rate.

CIN: Corporate Identity Number

The registration number of a company.

CPGRAMS: Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System

The Government of India's online complaints portal, for when EPFiGMS does not resolve your issue.

CTC: Cost to company

Your total yearly pay package including the employer's PF share. It is not the same as PF wages.

DA: Dearness Allowance

An allowance added to basic pay. PF is calculated on basic pay plus DA (and retaining allowance).

DOB: Date of birth

Must match between Aadhaar and your EPF record, or claims get rejected.

DOE: Date of exit

The date you left a job. A claim for that job's money cannot be made until it is recorded.

DOJ: Date of joining

The date you started a job, as recorded by EPFO.

DSC: Digital Signature Certificate

An electronic signature on a USB token. Employers use it to sign approvals on the EPFO portal.

ECR: Electronic Challan-cum-Return

The monthly return an employer files to report each employee's wages and PF, and to pay the dues.

EDLI: Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance

Free life cover for EPF members, paid for by the employer. The family gets up to ₹7 lakh if a member dies in service.

EPF: Employees' Provident Fund

Your retirement savings account. You and your employer both pay into it every month and it earns interest.

EPFO: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation

The government body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment that runs EPF, EPS and EDLI.

EPS: Employees' Pension Scheme

The pension part of PF. Out of the employer's 12%, an amount equal to 8.33% of your PF wages (up to the wage ceiling) goes here. With 10 years of service it pays a monthly pension from 58 (reduced from 50).

ESIC: Employees' State Insurance Corporation

Runs the separate health insurance scheme for workers. Not part of EPFO.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Common questions with short answers.

FAT: Face Authentication Technology

Checking your identity by scanning your face against Aadhaar records, using the AadhaarFaceRD app.

GST: Goods and Services Tax

Indirect tax. A GST number is not needed for EPFO registration, but helps verify the business.

IFSC: Indian Financial System Code

The 11-character code of your bank branch. It must match the account you give EPFO.

INR: Indian Rupee

India's currency, shown as ₹.

IP: Internet Protocol (address)

The network address your device uses on the internet.

KYC: Know Your Customer

Your Aadhaar, PAN and bank details verified and linked to your UAN. Most online claims need it.

LIN: Labour Identification Number

One number for a business across labour departments, issued on the Shram Suvidha portal.

LLP: Limited Liability Partnership

A form of business registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

MSME: Micro, small and medium enterprises

Smaller businesses. They pay the same PF rates as larger ones.

NEFT: National Electronic Funds Transfer

A bank transfer system. EPFO pays claims by bank transfer into your verified account.

NRI: Non-Resident Indian

An Indian citizen living outside India.

OTP: One-Time Password

A short code sent by SMS. Never share it with anyone who calls or messages you.

PAN: Permanent Account Number

Your 10-character income tax number. Without it, more tax is deducted from some PF withdrawals.

PDF: Portable Document Format

A file format that looks the same on every device.

PF: Provident Fund

The common name for your EPF account.

PIB: Press Information Bureau

The government's official news release agency.

PMVBRY: Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana

A government scheme that gives first-time employees and employers incentives for new jobs.

PPO: Pension Payment Order

The order number for a pensioner's EPS pension. Quote it in every pension query.

RD: Registered Device

Approved software or hardware for Aadhaar authentication. AadhaarFaceRD is the app used for face scans.

RPFC: Regional Provident Fund Commissioner

The officer who heads an EPFO regional office.

SMS: Short Message Service

A text message on your phone.

TDS: Tax Deducted at Source

Income tax that EPFO cuts from a withdrawal before paying you, in some cases.

TRRN: Temporary Return Reference Number

The number given to an employer's monthly return and challan. Used to track the payment.

UAN: Universal Account Number

Your 12-digit EPF number for life. It stays the same when you change jobs; each employer adds a new member ID under it.

UMANG: Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance

The government's app for many services. UAN generation and activation now happen only here.

UPI: Unified Payments Interface

India's instant bank-to-bank payment system, used by apps like BHIM, PhonePe and Google Pay.

VPF: Voluntary Provident Fund

Extra contribution you choose to make to EPF above the compulsory 12%. Your employer does not have to match it.

Other words you will see