EPFO launches “VISHWAS, 2026” for one-time amicable settlement of EPF damages/penalty disputes
EPFO has notified VISHWAS, 2026, a six-month one-time route for settlement of EPF damages and penalty disputes.
- VISHWAS, 2026 is a one-time dispute resolution initiative for EPF damages and penalty disputes.
- The scheme was notified as G.S.R. 525(E) and came into force on 29 June 2026.
- The scheme will remain operational for six months from the date of notification.
What happened
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has launched VISHWAS, 2026, a one-time dispute resolution initiative for settlement of disputes relating to levy of damages and penalty under Section 14B of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.
The scheme was notified through G.S.R. 525(E) dated 29 June 2026 as part of the EPF Scheme, 2026. It came into force on 29 June 2026 and will remain operational for six months from the date of notification.
UPSC can ask about the legal basis of provident fund damages, the distinction between interest and damages, the role of dispute settlement in improving compliance, and the design features of a one-time settlement-style resolution scheme in labour governance.
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