ELI Scheme: Activate Your UAN On EPFO Website By Today

January 15, 2025 is the deadline for activating the Universal Account Number (UAN) and link it with a bank account and Aadhaar.  

The Ministry of Finance, Government of India had introduced the Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme in Union Budget 2024. The scheme is aimed at incentivising job creation and employment. 

What Is The Extended Deadline? 

The ELI scheme is linked to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Applicants interested in applying for the scheme need to mandatorily activate their UAN and link it with a bank account and Aadhaar by today, January 15, 2025. 

 
Earlier in 2024, the EPFO had first extended the deadline to December 15, 2025. Prior to the revision, the deadline was November 30, 2024. 

Step By Step Guide To Activate UAN On EPFO Website 

You can activate your UAN by following these steps: 

• Head to the EPFO Member Portal. 

• Select the “Activate UAN” link under “Important Links”. 

• Type in your UAN, Aadhaar number, name, DOB, and Aadhaar-linked mobile number. (It is necessary for employees to use their Aadhaar linked mobile number for logging in). 

• Agree to the Aadhaar OTP verification. 

• Click on the “Get Authorisation PIN” option.  

• An OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. 

• Type in the OTP and finish the UAN activation process. 

Once the process is complete, a password will be sent to your registered mobile number 

What Is The ELI Scheme? 

The ELI scheme includes three variants: A, B, and C. All three variants of the ELI scheme seek to target different aspects of the employment cycle. The schemes are a part of the Prime Minister’s package.  

Applicants can access the benefits of the ELI Scheme only if they activate their UAN through the EPFO portal. 

“Scheme A will focus on first-timers joining employment and enrolling for the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme as well. Scheme B focuses on job-creation in manufacturing, and Scheme C will focus on the support to the employers,” Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman had said while presenting the Union Budget. 

ELI Scheme A: Incentive For New Employees 

The ELI Scheme A seeks to provide one-month salary to all employees who have just entered the workforce in all formal sectors. Sitharaman had said that as a part of the scheme, a direct benefit transfer of one-month salary will be made in three instalments to first-time employees who are registered in EPFO. Up to Rs 15,000 will be transferred as a part of the scheme. New employees with a salary of up to Rs 1 lakh per month will be eligible for the scheme. Sitharaman had said that the scheme is likely to benefit as many as 21 million beneficiaries. 

ELI Scheme B: Incentives For Job Creation  

The ELI Scheme B aims to increase employment in the manufacturing sector. The scheme seeks to increase employment of first-time employees in manufacturing by providing an incentive at a specified scale. The incentive will be provided to both the employee and the employer with respect to their EPFO contribution for the first four years of employment. Sitharaman had said that the scheme would likely to benefit three million applicants, comprising both first-time employees and their employers. 

Scheme C: Support To Employers 

In a bid to increase employment across sectors, the government would also reimburse Rs 3,000 per month for two years to employers for the contributions they make towards EPF of every additional employee. All additional employment within a salary of Rs 1 lakh per month would be counted as eligible for the scheme. Sitharaman had mentioned that the scheme would benefit five million people.