EPFO: Minimum pension may increase after 12 years, know how much is being discussed?

November 19 could be an important day for lakhs of pensioners of the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The government is considering raising the minimum monthly pension under the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000. According to media reports, the proposal may be discussed in EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees (CBT) meeting to be held on 19 November 2026.

Earlier this meeting was to be held in Gir, Gujarat, but now its location has been changed to New Delhi. In a letter sent to CBT members on November 4, EPFO ​​Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Subrata Bhowmik said that a meeting will be held at EPFO ​​headquarters on November 19 at 10:15 am.

According to media reports, the Labor Ministry has taken this decision after discussing the proposal to increase the minimum pension with the Finance Ministry. However, no announcement has yet been made by the Ministry of Labor or the Ministry of Finance. In such a situation, the news of Rs 3000 pension should be seen only as a possible proposal.

Minimum EPS pension has not increased since 2014

The minimum pension under EPS was last increased in February 2014 to Rs. 1,000 was made. At that time the Central Board of Trustees approved this proposal. After this, the finance minister announced it in the 2014-15 budget and the government notified it in August 2014. Since then the minimum pension amount has remained only Rs 1,000. Employees and pensioners’ organizations have long been demanding an increase in the minimum pension to at least Rs 7,500. He says that it is very difficult to live on a pension of Rs 1000 in the current inflation.

The demand for pension has increased after the increase in salary limit

Pension under EPS is determined on the basis of pensionable pay and total period of employment of the employee. The salary ceiling for calculation of pension has been increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 in September 2026. Following this, the employee and pensioner organizations have intensified their demand to increase the minimum pension. There is no fixed maximum limit on pension in EPS. However, the actual amount of pension depends on the pensionable pay and length of service of the employee.

What is EPS 2026 Pension Scheme?

Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) is a social security scheme that provides regular pension after retirement to employees working in the organized sector. Under this, the employer i.e. the company contributes 8.33% of the employee’s basic salary to the pension fund. According to the current salary limit of Rs 25,000, it comes to a maximum of Rs 2,083 per month. From July 2026, the new EPS 2026 scheme has been implemented in place of EPS 1995. It has been notified under the Social Security Code, 2020. This scheme also replaced the Employees’ Family Pension Scheme, 1971.