New Delhi, India ā November 1, 2025, marks the implementation of several pivotal government schemes and policy adjustments across India, impacting workforce formalization, financial services, and social security. The Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, launched the Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025 on the 73rd Foundation Day of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in New Delhi.
Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025: A Push for Formalization
The newly introduced Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025 is a special initiative designed to promote voluntary compliance and expand social security coverage to eligible employees who may have been previously excluded from the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) system. Effective from November 1, 2025, the scheme provides a six-month window, until April 30, 2026, for employers to regularize EPF compliance for employees engaged between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025.
Under this scheme, employers can declare previously unregistered employees through the EPFO portal. A significant incentive is the waiver of the employee's share of contribution for the declared period if it was not deducted earlier. The employer's obligation is limited to remitting their share, interest, administrative charges, and a nominal penal damage of ā¹100 per establishment. This initiative aims to enhance workforce formalization, promote ease of doing business, and ultimately strengthen the goal of "Social Security for All" by bringing more informal workers into India's organized social safety net.
Key Financial Rules and Policy Changes
Alongside the new EPF scheme, several other financial regulations became effective on November 1, 2025, directly impacting citizens' daily lives and financial activities.
- Banking and Nomination Rules: New nomination rules under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, allow bank account holders to nominate up to four individuals for their bank deposits and lockers. This simplifies the process for legal heirs to claim funds.
- Aadhaar Card Updates: Rules for Aadhaar card updates have changed, permitting online edits for name, address, and mobile number through the myAadhaar site, potentially reducing the need for in-person visits for certain demographic changes.
- Life Certificate Submission: Central and state government pensioners are required to submit their annual life certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) between November 1 and November 30, 2025, to ensure uninterrupted pension disbursement. Pensioners aged 80 and above had an extended window, starting October 1, 2025.
- NPS to UPS Transition Deadline: The deadline for central government employees to transition from the National Pension System (NPS) to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been extended to November 30, 2025.
- SBI Card and PNB Changes: SBI Card has revised its fee structure for education-related payments and wallet reloads. Additionally, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has announced a reduction in locker rent charges across various categories.
These comprehensive changes reflect the government's ongoing efforts to streamline processes, enhance social security, and improve citizen-centric service delivery across various sectors.