More than Rs 9,330 crore remains unclaimed in 30.91 lakh inactive EPF accounts across India, according to an RTI response. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation reported the figures as of March 31, 2026. This amount is slightly lower than the previous year, when 31.83 lakh accounts held Rs 10,181 crore. The new EPF Scheme 2026 took effect on June 29, replacing the 1952 framework to simplify rules and expand digital access for nearly eight crore subscribers. The unclaimed sum matches recent central spending on the UDAN scheme and the 2026-27 budget for Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY. Adjusted for inflation, it could cover the cost of establishing three IITs with funds remaining. EPFO stated it maintains data only from 2025 onward and declined to release Aadhaar-linked details or figures on high-balance accounts under RTI exemptions.
