The Employees' Provident Fund came into existence with the promulgation of the Employees' Provident Funds Ordinance on the 15th November, 1951. It was replaced by the Employees' Provident Funds Act, 1952. The Employees' Provident Funds Bill was introduced in the Parliament as Bill Number 15 of the year 1952 as a Bill to provide for the institution of provident funds for employees in factories and other establishments. The Act is now referred as the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 which extends to the whole of Indian except Jammu and Kashmir.

The Act and Schemes framed there under are administered by a tri-partite Board known as the Central Board of Trustees, Employees' Provident Fund, consisting of representatives of Government (Both Central and State), Employers, and Employees.

The Board administers a contributory provident fund, pension scheme and an insurance scheme for the workforce engaged in the organized sector in India. It is one of the world’s largest organizations in terms of clientele and the volume of financial transactions undertaken by it. The Board is assisted by the Employees’ PF Organization (EPFO), consisting of offices at 122 locations across the country. The EPFO is under the administrative control of Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (click here). The Organization also has a well equipped training set up where officers and employees of the Organization as well as Representatives of the Employers and Employees attend sessions for trainings and seminars.

The Board operates three schemes viz. :-

1. The Employees' Provident Funds Scheme 1952 (EPF)
2. The Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS)
3. The Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme 1976 (EDLI)

The Employees' Provident Funds Scheme 1952 (EPF)
Benefits	Accumulation plus interest upon retirement, resignation , death. Partial withdrawals allowed for specific expenses such as house construction, higher education, marriage, illness etc. Partial withdrawals allowed for specific expenses such as house construction, higher education, marriage, illness etc.
Nomination	There is a common Form for all the three Schemes. Form 2 (R) The nominations in case of EPF Scheme are also applicable for the EDLI Scheme. Member having family can nominate any one or more of the family members as defined under the Para 2 (f) of the EPF Scheme, 1952. Member not having any family member as defined in the said Para can nominate any other person, but the nomination will become invalid in case of the member acquiring family.
Claim Forms	For final settlement by member: Form 19 For Transfer of old account to the new one: Form 13 For Withdrawal in certain cases: Form 31 For financing LIC Policy: Form 14 For final settlement in favour of nominee/ beneficiary of a deceased member: Form 20

The Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS)
Benefits	Monthly benefits for superannuation/ retirement, disability, survivor, widow (er), children. Amount of pension based on average salary during the preceding 12 months from the date of exit and total years of employment. Minimum pension on disablement. Past service benefit to participants of erstwhile Family Pension Scheme, 1971.
Nomination	Member has to give the names of Spouse and all children in the prescribed Form. In case the member has no family, one person can be nominated. However, such nomination will become invalid once the member acquires a family.
Claim Forms	For Monthly Pension: Form 10D For Withdrawal Benefit and Scheme Certificate: Form 10C

The Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme 1976 (EDLI)
Benefits	The benefit provided in case of death of an employee who was member of the scheme at the time of the death. According to revised scheme payment of benefit amount to be 20 times of the wages or based on the deposit in the Provident Fund, which ever is less. With the increase in the wages ceiling from 6500/- to 15000/- from 01.09.2014, the maximum benefit amount has become 3 lakh and an additional 20% of the benefit amount calculated is also paid.
Nomination	The nomination under the EPF Scheme will be applicable for the EDLI Scheme also.
Claim Forms	For claiming Insurance Benefit by a nominee/ beneficiary in case of member’s death while in service: Form 5IF

As on date, the Act extends to 187 classes of establishments. Any establishment falling in any of the 187 categories mentioned above and employing more than 19 persons automatically comes under the purview of the EPF & MP Act 1952. On coming under the purview of the Act the employers are required to submit Particulars of Ownership, [Form 5A] and comply with the relevant statutory provisions.