News for '-provident-fund-organisation'

Mutual funds' equity buys hit Rs 1.7 trn in 2023, defying market swing

Mutual funds' equity buys hit Rs 1.7 trn in 2023, defying market swing

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

Mutual funds' equity buying remained elevated for the fifth consecutive month in December, taking the net equity purchase past Rs 1.7 trillion in 2023. The aggressive buying in December indicates that flows into equity funds are likely to have remained unaffected by the sharp run-up in the market last month. Mutual funds (MFs) bought equities worth Rs 23,000 crore last month (until December 28) compared to Rs 18,000 crore in November, shows data from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

Extraordinary Story Of EPFO Digitisation

Extraordinary Story Of EPFO Digitisation

Rediff.com27 May 2024

A remarkable story which helped in transforming a bureaucratic organization, to a customer centric organization. This experience may inspire several government / private organizations to modify or adopt digitisation to transform their business, notes Professor N Ravichandran (retd).

Deadline to apply for higher pension extended till July 11

Deadline to apply for higher pension extended till July 11

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

Retirement fund body EPFO has extended the deadline for filing applications to opt for a higher pension till July 11. This is the second extension of the deadline for applying for a higher pension. Earlier, it was extended from May 3, 2023, to June 26, 2023.

Deadline to apply for higher pension extended till June 26

Deadline to apply for higher pension extended till June 26

Rediff.com2 May 2023

Retirement fund body EPFO has extended the date for filing applications to opt for a higher pension till June 26, 2023. In order to provide a larger window of opportunity and in order to enable all eligible persons to file their applications, the timeline for filing applications would now be till 26th June, 2023, according to a statement. "The EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) has made arrangements for obtaining applications for validation of option/joint option from pensioners/members as per the Supreme Court order on November 4, 2022," labour ministry said in a statement.

10% fewer fresh formal jobs created in April-August

10% fewer fresh formal jobs created in April-August

Rediff.com24 Oct 2023

While the country's unemployment rate is falling, the quality of employment seems to have taken a hit. The pace of formalisation slowed in the five months of the current financial year (April-August) with more than half a million fewer formal jobs created in the period compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The payroll data showed that cumulatively 4.92 million new subscribers joined the social security organisation between April-August this year, compared to 5.51 million subscribers in the same period in the previous year, reflecting a 10.7 per cent decline in the number of new payrolls created.

EPF interest rate fixed at 8.15% for FY 2022-23

EPF interest rate fixed at 8.15% for FY 2022-23

Rediff.com28 Mar 2023

Retirement fund body EPFO fixed 8.15 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2022-23 at its meeting on Tuesday. In March 2022, EPFO had lowered the interest on EPF for 2021-22 to an over four-decade low of 8.1 per cent for its about five crore subscribers, from 8.5 per cent in 2020-21. This was the lowest since 1977-78, when the EPF interest rate stood at 8 per cent.

Is The Golden Decade For Indian Markets Over?

Is The Golden Decade For Indian Markets Over?

Rediff.com18 Jan 2024

Have the markets already played out their dynamics before the economy has even properly taken off? Are we now destined for a period of mediocre returns despite a strong economy? asks Akash Prakash.

Modi's guarantee in LS: NDA will cross 400 seats, BJP 370+

Modi's guarantee in LS: NDA will cross 400 seats, BJP 370+

Rediff.com5 Feb 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed confidence that the NDA will get more than 400 seats and the BJP will win at least 370 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

EPFO may decide interest rate for FY23 by Tuesday

EPFO may decide interest rate for FY23 by Tuesday

Rediff.com27 Mar 2023

The retirement fund body EPFO is likely to announce the rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2022-23 at its two-day meeting beginning Monday. EPFO had lowered the interest on EPF for 2021-22 to an over four-decade low of 8.1 per cent for its about five crore subscribers, from 8.5 per cent in 2020-21 in March 2022. This was the lowest since 1977-78, when the EPF interest rate stood at 8 per cent.

ETFs Vs Index Funds: Where To Invest?

ETFs Vs Index Funds: Where To Invest?

Rediff.com26 Sep 2023

Dwaipayan Bose highlights the similarities and contrasts between ETFs and Index Funds.

In debate over NPS and EPFO returns, one retirement fund edges ahead

In debate over NPS and EPFO returns, one retirement fund edges ahead

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

If you work for 30 years, a two per cent difference in pension returns can reduce your final retirement nest egg by 40 per cent. The Rs 9-trillion National Pension System (NPS) seems to be delivering incrementally higher returns than the twice-as-large Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), shows a Business Standard analysis of data over the last seven years for the two retirement fund bodies. An investor who put in Rs 100 in retirement savings seven years ago would have seen her NPS nest egg grow to Rs 182 by 2023, according to the analysis based on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority's recently released Handbook of National Pension System Statistics 2023.

Exchange route mandatory for sub-Rs 25 crore ETF deals from Tuesday

Exchange route mandatory for sub-Rs 25 crore ETF deals from Tuesday

Rediff.com2 May 2023

Buying and selling of exchange trade fund (ETF) units worth less than Rs 25 crore will now have to take place compulsorily on the stock exchange platform, according to a new rule which comes into effect on Tuesday. The fresh norm, which comes into being after two deferments, is aimed at boosting liquidity and reducing tracking error. At present, investors directly deal with the asset management companies (AMCs) for purchase and redemption of ETFs - passive schemes that track a particular benchmark such as the Nifty50 index.

Pension plan of 2014 valid says SC; quashes Rs 15K salary limit

Pension plan of 2014 valid says SC; quashes Rs 15K salary limit

Rediff.com4 Nov 2022

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the validity of the Employees Pension (Amendment) Scheme of 2014 but quashed the threshold limit of Rs 15,000 monthly salary for joining the pension fund. The 2014 amendment had capped the maximum pensionable salary (basic pay plus dearness allowance) at Rs 15,000 per month. Prior to the amendment, the maximum pensionable salary was capped at Rs 6,500 a month.

India's urban unemployment rate falls to 6.8% in Q4

India's urban unemployment rate falls to 6.8% in Q4

Rediff.com30 May 2023

India's urban unemployment rate declined in Q4FY23 to 6.8 per cent - the lowest in over four years -- after it stagnated at 7.2 per cent in the previous October-December quarter, reflecting improvement in the labour market, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Monday. The unemployment rate in current weekly status (CWS) terms for all ages in the March quarter was the lowest recorded in more than four years, from the time the NSO released India's first quarterly urban jobless rate for the December quarter in 2018. The jobless rate in urban areas had been on a continuous decline since the peak of 20.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of FY21.

New formal job creation in February at 21-month low

New formal job creation in February at 21-month low

Rediff.com21 Apr 2023

Fresh formal job creation declined sequentially for a third straight month in February to fall to a 21-month low, signaling pressure in the employment market. These are the findings from the latest payroll data released by the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Thursday. The number of new monthly subscribers under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) declined 10 per cent sequentially to 738,052 in February from 819,659 in January.

EPFO board to meet this month, unlikely to cut rates below 8%

EPFO board to meet this month, unlikely to cut rates below 8%

Rediff.com8 Mar 2023

A decision on the interest rate for close to 60 million active subscribers of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is likely to be taken in the next Central Board of Trustee (CBT) meeting, starting on March 25. A letter from the social security organisation regarding the convening of the 233rd CBT meeting was sent to all the board members last week, soliciting their presence in the meeting. Although the venue and the agenda haven't been drawn out yet, sources familiar with the matter say that the interest rate is unlikely to go below 8 per cent level amid a rising interest rate scenario across the globe.

Why Is EPFO Hiring Law Firms?

Why Is EPFO Hiring Law Firms?

Rediff.com21 Oct 2022

The law firms will provide legal opinion on matters related to interpretation of various statutes, such as the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, among other things.

Share of youth employment at 5-year high in 2022, shows EPFO data

Share of youth employment at 5-year high in 2022, shows EPFO data

Rediff.com23 Feb 2023

In the jobs created in 2022, the share of those in the age group 18-25 increased to at least a five-year high of 56 per cent. A Business Standard analysis of the monthly Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) payroll data shows in 2018 the share of youths among the new EPFO subscribers was 50.9 per cent. The National Statistical Office is releasing the monthly EPFO payroll data since April 2018 as part of the government's effort to track formal-sector employment by using payrolls as an instrument.

6 states report fewer formal jobs for youth in Q2

6 states report fewer formal jobs for youth in Q2

Rediff.com6 Dec 2022

Six states out of 22 major states and Union Territories (UTs) generated fewer formal jobs for the youth in the September quarter than they did in the corresponding quarter a year ago, a Business Standard analysis of the data released by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) shows. States like Punjab (-12.4 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (-10.3 per cent), Jharkhand (- 7.2 per cent), Assam (-3.7 per cent), Gujarat (-3.4 per cent) and Rajasthan (-.1.1 per cent) saw further decline in the number of net new subscribers in the second quarter (Q2) of FY23 compared to the last year. The analysis did not include northeastern states, except for Assam. This is crucial as the subscribers in the 18-28 age group are seen as first-timers in the labour market, thus reflecting the robustness of the job market.

Debt as investment avenue is more appealing for the wealthy

Debt as investment avenue is more appealing for the wealthy

Rediff.com12 Jan 2023

Debt as an investment avenue for the wealthy has been attracting more assets than equity. The portfolio management service (PMS) industry, whose services require a minimum investment of Rs 50 lakh, has seen a 4.4 per cent decline in equity assets since March 2022.

Want To Opt For EPF-EPS Joint Scheme?

Want To Opt For EPF-EPS Joint Scheme?

Rediff.com2 Mar 2023

Before opting for this scheme, consider how EPS is calculated.

Read All Contracts Carefully!

Read All Contracts Carefully!

Rediff.com24 Mar 2023

Suppose you had bought a television set that came with a one-year warranty. It breaks down two years after purchase. You can't react emotionally and say that such an expensive set should last for at least five-six years.

May 3 is deadline for subscribers to opt for higher pension

May 3 is deadline for subscribers to opt for higher pension

Rediff.com27 Feb 2023

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Monday set May 3 as the deadline for subscribers to opt for a higher pension. The Supreme Court on November 4 allowed another change for employees who were existing EPS members as on September 1, 2014, to contribute up to 8.33 per cent of their actual salaries - as against 8.33 per cent of pensionable salary capped at Rs 15,000 a month - towards pension. The apex court gave a four-month window to enable opting for higher pensions.

Retail inflation likely to ease in coming months: Finance ministry

Retail inflation likely to ease in coming months: Finance ministry

Rediff.com25 Nov 2022

India's consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation could ease in the coming months thanks to the arrival of kharif crops, lower international commodity prices, and a pass through of lower input costs to consumers, the finance ministry said in its Monthly Economic Review (MER) for October, which was released on Thursday. The MER, however, warned that the global macroeconomic situation remained precarious and a recession in many advanced economies would impact India's exports. "Easing international commodity prices and new Kharif arrival are set to dampen inflationary pressures in the coming months.

Now, PAN As A Single Business ID

Now, PAN As A Single Business ID

Rediff.com19 Jan 2023

'Each state and central government body may be asked to update its system to ensure PAN is used as a common identification to access its services.'

EPFO likely to hike investment limit in equities to 20%

EPFO likely to hike investment limit in equities to 20%

Rediff.com18 Jul 2022

Retirement fund body EPFO is likely to approve this month a proposal to enhance its investments in equites to up to 20 per cent of the investible deposits from the current limit of 15 per cent. The proposal is expected to be considered and approved during the EPFO trustees' meeting scheduled to be held on July 29 and 30, according to a source. At present, EPFO can investment 5 to 15 per cent of the investible deposits in equity or equity-related schemes.

EPFO adds 16.26 lakh subscribers in Nov

EPFO adds 16.26 lakh subscribers in Nov

Rediff.com20 Jan 2023

Retirement fund body EPFO added 16.26 lakh subscribers on a net basis in November 2022, which is 16.5 per cent higher compared to a year ago, the labour ministry said on Friday. The provisional payroll data of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) released on Friday by the ministry highlighted that the EPFO has added 16.26 lakh net members in the month of November 2022. The data indicate a 25.67 per cent increase in net additions compared to the previous month in October 2022, a labour ministry statement said.

5 states bag lion's share in formal jobs post Covid

5 states bag lion's share in formal jobs post Covid

Rediff.com4 Oct 2022

In December 2020, as economists debated the shape the global economic recovery might take - Z, V, U, W or L - JP Morgan came up with the concept of the K-shaped curve. The investment bank used the shape of the letter K to illustrate the growing difference between large and small businesses in the United States. Since then, as the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the gap between the rich and poor, the term has gained a larger connotation to embody the characteristics of development across economies.

Companies see slowdown in growth of temporary, contract and casual jobs

Companies see slowdown in growth of temporary, contract and casual jobs

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

Some of India's largest companies have seen a slowdown in the growth of temporary, contract and casual jobs, as compared to the increase in their total workforce. The absolute number of such jobs is up 30 per cent between financial year 2017-18 and 2021-22 (FY18-22), shows an analysis of data collated from the annual reports of S&P BSE 100 companies. Forty-eight firms were considered for the final analysis based on the availability of uniform data across the last five years. In comparison, the total workforce numbers are up 36 per cent in the same period.

8.1% EPF interest rate for 2021-22 is over 40-year low

8.1% EPF interest rate for 2021-22 is over 40-year low

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

The government has approved 8.1 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2021-22 -- an over four-decade low -- for about five crore subscribers of retirement fund body EPFO. Earlier in March this year, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had decided to lower the interest on provident fund deposits for 2021-22 to 8.1 per cent from 8.5 per cent provided in 2020-21. According to an EPFO office order issued on Friday and reviewed by PTI, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has conveyed approval of the central government to credit 8.1 per cent rate of interest for 2021-22 to each member of the EPF scheme.

Govt approves 8.5% interest rate on EPF for FY'21

Govt approves 8.5% interest rate on EPF for FY'21

Rediff.com29 Oct 2021

The government has approved 8.5 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund for the 2020-21 fiscal, a source said. Just ahead of Diwali, this is a good news for over five crore subscribers of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The 8.5 per cent rate of interest on provident fund deposits for the last financial year was decided by the EPFO's apex decision making body Central Board of Trustees (CBT) headed by Labour Minister in March this year.

Budget session of Parliament resumes from Monday, Oppn set to corner govt

Budget session of Parliament resumes from Monday, Oppn set to corner govt

Rediff.com13 Mar 2022

Top on the government's agenda would be getting Parliament's approval to the budgetary proposals and presentation of the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Provident fund deposits to get 8.5% interest in 20-21

Provident fund deposits to get 8.5% interest in 20-21

Rediff.com4 Mar 2021

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) apex decision-making body, Central Board of Trustees, decided to fix 8.5 per cent rate of interest for 2020-21 at its meeting in Srinagar on Thursday, sources said.

Controversy over jobs resurfaces

Controversy over jobs resurfaces

Rediff.com22 Apr 2019

While Employees State Insurance Corporation data shows job creation in February had dropped, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation said it had actually shown robust growth.

A big challenge to EPFO returns

A big challenge to EPFO returns

Rediff.com18 Mar 2022

There is widening gap between what the government's premier retirement fund makes on its investments and what it offers to employees. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) makes the bulk of its investments in government-related securities. In other words, it lends to central and state governments and related entities. The interest it gets from these instruments is largely what it uses to pay interest to its subscribers.

PM kicks off 'Rozgar Mela' to provide 10 lakh jobs

PM kicks off 'Rozgar Mela' to provide 10 lakh jobs

Rediff.com22 Oct 2022

In his address after more than 75,000 people were given appointment letters for various government jobs in the first tranche, Modi acknowledged the challenges facing the economy the world over with many countries hit by a record inflation and unemployment and said India is making every effort to come out of the situation unscathed.

Rs 200,00,00,00,000 unclaimed in stocks

Rs 200,00,00,00,000 unclaimed in stocks

Rediff.com4 Jan 2022

The value of unclaimed securities and other assets was nearly Rs 20,000 crore in March 2020.

Govt reshuffles bureaucrats, Air India chairman is aviation secretary

Govt reshuffles bureaucrats, Air India chairman is aviation secretary

Rediff.com22 Sep 2021

Air India Chairman Rajiv Bansal has been appointed as the new aviation secretary as part of a major top-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre on Wednesday. K Rajaraman, additional secretary in the department of economic affairs, has been appointed as secretary, department of telecommunications, a personnel ministry order said.

EPFO adds 14.81 lakh net subscribers in August

EPFO adds 14.81 lakh net subscribers in August

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

Retirement fund body EPFO net added 14.81 lakh subscribers in August 2021, reflecting a growing trend in net payroll for the first five months of this fiscal. The provisional payroll data of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) released on Wednesday highlights that it added around 14.81 lakh net subscribers during the month of August 2021, a labour ministry statement said. The data reflects a growing trend in net payroll for the first five months of the current financial year, it added.