Aadhaar-based face ID necessary for generating UAN via UMANG app: EPFO
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has mandated that one has to use face authentication technology to generate Universal Account Numbers with the help of UMANG app. It will eliminate any errors associated with the manual process of UAN generation.
Kolkata: Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology -- that's what will be necessary henceforth to generate and activate Universal Account Numbers (UANs) with the help of the UMANG app, EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) has said. The objective of this step is to ensure an accurate allotment of the UAN since it employs biometric verification and is further linked with the Aadhaar.
The direct implication for users: to carry out the process, one has to install the UMANG app and Aadhaar Face RD app on their smartphones. The face authentication step will enable a paperless processing. These can also eliminate the chances of any errors that might creep in during manual processes. Once the verification is complete, an OTP will be sent to the registered phone number of the user. The UAN will be sent via SMS.
This process has got another advantage: all the information about an individual in the Aadhaar database is filled into the EPFO, which will result in KYC validation automatically. With this UAN one can easily access one's EPFO passbook access and also file claims for premature withdrawal from the EPFO.
The technology will help fix issues that can arise from incorrect of duplicate entries. The accuracy of the database will rise. It can be recalled that EPFO issued a circular on April 8, when the face authentication technology was suggested as an option. Now it is being made mandatory. It is being interpreted as a broader strategy to make EPFO services more technology-oriented, reducing human intervention and making the services quicker and more efficient.
Reports state that this change has been ushed in in conjunction with UMANG-based service. However, the UAN generation process that is assisted by employers will also continue simultaneously. It will be applicable for international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan. Thus needs of different categories of EPFO members will be streamlined into a comprehensive EPFO portal.
UAN is a 12-digit number issued by the EPFO. It is allotted Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to employees who become a member of the retirement-funds body. The UAN acts as an umbrella reference point for an contributor. It is unique and unites all the EPFO accounts that one might have by the virtue of working for different companies.