Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued an urgent alert for members to upload a recent passport-size photograph on the Unified Member Portal to complete e-nominations and facilitate online claim settlements. According to reports from Moneycontrol and Business Standard, while uploading a profile photo is not mandatory for all EPFO transactions, those who have not uploaded or updated their photograph may face difficulties completing e-nominations or accessing online EPFO services. The profile photo serves as part of an individual's digital records and is essential during the online verification process, particularly when submitting e-nominations for provident fund and related retirement benefits.
Several EPF members have reported facing technical difficulties with the profile photo upload feature on the EPFO Unified Member Portal. According to a Reddit post by user Sea_Director_5780, despite resizing the image to the required 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm dimensions and keeping the file size below 100 KB, the photo failed to save properly. The user described being stuck in an "endless loop" where the portal prompts them to complete e-nomination, but after uploading the photo, the page simply refreshes and the default grey avatar reappears. Other members in the discussion have reported similar issues, with some expressing concern that repeated login attempts could eventually restrict account access before completing the nomination process.
A valid nomination helps ensure that the accumulated EPF balance, along with benefits under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) and Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI), is transferred smoothly to the intended beneficiary. As reported by Moneycontrol and Business Standard, if the account holder fails to choose a nominee, their family members may face delays and require additional paperwork while claiming the money. To make an EPF e-nomination valid, members must also complete the e-sign process through the Aadhaar-based facility available on the EPFO portal. Having a valid e-nomination ensures that the accumulated EPF corpus can be transferred more smoothly to eligible nominees in the event of the member's death, reducing the likelihood of verification failures and delays when retirement savings or survivor benefits need to be claimed.
Members can update their profile photo by visiting the EPFO Unified Member Portal and logging in using their Universal Account Number (UAN), password and captcha. According to the instructions provided, users should navigate to the dashboard and click on the Profile or View section, then select the option to upload or update their profile photo. Members must upload their recent passport-size image in the prescribed format, save the changes, and verify that the updated photo displays correctly on their profile before proceeding with e-nomination or filing online claims for PF. The profile photo serves as a visual identity for the member and helps in faster processing of provident fund claims, making it an important part of maintaining updated digital records as EPFO expands its digital services.
EPFO subscribers are anticipated to receive 8.25% interest on their EPF contributions for Financial Year 2025-26 today (Wednesday, July 15, 2026). Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the EPFO would process interest payments for about 34 crore member accounts soon, with the revised balance accessible by July 15, 2026. The Finance Ministry had previously confirmed this 8.25% interest rate for FY 2025-26, ensuring that interest accrues monthly to prevent any loss if credit is delayed. Members can check their updated balances through the UMANG app, SMS, or the EPFO member e-Sewa portal.
EPFO has specified certain individuals who can be chosen as nominees for EPF funds. For male subscribers, eligible nominees include wife, children (married and unmarried), dependent parents, and widow of son and children. Female subscribers can nominate husband, children (married or unmarried), dependent parents, spouse's dependent parents and widow of son and children. As reported by Moneycontrol and Business Standard, married subscribers are required to add their spouse even if they do not wish to nominate their husband/wife under PF. Once chosen, members must submit the Aadhaar copy and photo of the family member, and provide supporting details including Aadhaar information and photograph of the nominated family member. Members can then proceed to the Manage > E-Nomination section to add family details and specify nominee shares.
