Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, replying to a query in Rajya Sabha on Thursday (August 13, 2026), revealed the data of inoperative Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) from Financial Years 2020-21 to 2023-24. The data provided a lot of insights such as 84% growth in inoperative accounts, increasing unsettled balance and decreasing settled amounts, in four years. What it also revealed is that the average amount per inoperative amount has increased by 18% in four years, from Rs 33,513 in FY 20-21 to Rs 39,460 in FY 23-24. Let’s go through the data Karandlaje presented in the Parliament.Inoperative EPF accounts increase On Thursday, Neeraj Dangi, Member of Parliament (MP), asked Karandlaje about the number of inoperative EPF accounts and the amount lying therein, year-wise and state/Union Territory-wise, from the Financial Year 2020-21 till date.Dangi also asked about the details of EPF claims settled in respect of such accounts, and whether the government has assessed the reasons for an increase in the number of inoperative EPF accounts.Karandlaje presented the data of inoperative EPF accounts year-wise from the Financial Year 2020-21 to 2023-24. Financial Year Number of inoperative accounts Balance (₹ crore) Settled amount (₹ crore) 2020-21 11,72,923 3,930.85 1,855.55 2021-22 13,41,848 4,962.70 2,269.75 2022-23 17,44,518 6,804.88 2,673.98 2023-24 21,55,387 8,505.23 2,632.29 of Labour & Employment in Rajya Sabha Insights from inoperative EPF account dataNearly 84% increase in inoperative EPF accounts in 4 yearsThe Labour Ministry data revealed that in the four years, from 2020-21 to 2023-24, inoperative EPF accounts increased by nearly 84%, from 11,72,923 to 21,55,387.116% increase in unsettled balance, 42% jump in settled balance As per the data, there is an approximately 116% rise in the balance of unsettled inoperative EPF accounts, from Rs 3,931 crore in FY 20-32 to Rs 8,505 crore in FY 23-24.What is striking is that in the same duration, balance of settled accounts rose by just 42%, from Rs 1,856 crore in FY 20-21 to Rs 2,632 crore in FY 23-24.Decrease in percentage of settled inoperative EPF account amountIn the four financial years mentioned in the data, the unsettled amount percentage has decreased by nearly 16%. In FY 20-21, Rs 18,56 crore amount was settled against Rs 3,931 crore balance, 47% in total. In FY 23-24, it decreased to 31%, Rs 2,632 crore settled amount against Rs 8,505 crore balance.What is also striking is that in FY 22-23, the settled amount was nearly Rs 2,674 crore, which decreased to a little over Rs 2,632 crore in FY 23-24, a 1.56% slip.Average amount per inoperative amount increased by 16% in 4 yearsThe average balance per inoperative EPF account increased by 16% in four financial years. In FY 20-21, it was Rs 33,513, while it increased to Rs 39,460 in FY 23-24.Why did inoperative EPF accounts increase in four years?Replying to the query of Dangi, Karandlaje said that the primary reason for the increase in the number of inoperative EPS accounts is the non filing of claims by the members after exiting service.“Additionally, due to KYC updation (Aadhaar seeding) drive for all its members, accounts hitherto not classified because of the absence of members' date of birth, have now been categorised as inoperative,” says the minister.What measures has government taken to identify inoperative EPF accounts?Replying to the question, Karandlaje revealed that the government has taken measures to identify and categorise inoperative EPF accounts with unclaimed accumulations based on the availability and status of KYC details.A provision for auto-initiation of EPF claims has been incorporated in the revised EPF Scheme, 2026, to facilitate direct credit of accumulations to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts, reveals Karandlaje.The Minister further says that the EPFO has also undertaken outreach and awareness initiatives through social media platforms and the organisation of Nidhi Aapke Nikat (NAN) 2.0 camps to disseminate information among employers and employees regarding EPF services and Inoperative accounts.What should you do activate inoperative EPF account?If you are working in an establishment covered under the EPF & MP Act, 1952, you should get the amount transferred into your new account either by online or offline mode. If you have retired, you may withdraw the amount, as per the EPFO instructions.
