EPFO Face Authentication: EPFO ​​launches amazing facility! Now UAN will be created from the phone sitting at home

Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has launched the revolutionary ‘Face Authentication Technology’ (FAT) based service, taking digital services to its members to a new level. Now first-time employees will not need to visit the company’s HR department or EPFO ​​to get their Universal Account Number (UAN) made or activated.

Employees can generate a new UAN in just a few minutes by simply scanning their face with their smartphone camera. EPFO has started this facility by integrating it with the Aadhaar FaceRD system of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Through this, as soon as there is real-time matching of the photo registered in Aadhaar and the live face, the system immediately allocates UAN and the account is automatically activated.

Before the introduction of this new system, employees had to wait for the company’s approval and digital signature for UAN activation or change in profile. With face-authentication technology, 4 major tasks will become completely paperless and automatic:

• Instant UAN Generation: Freshers or new employees can create their own 12-digit UAN through Aadhaar number and face authentication.

• e-KYC without OTP: Even if the old mobile number linked to Aadhaar has been switched off, face authentication will verify the biometric identity and complete KYC instantly.

• Instant Passbook Download from Umang App: Once the UAN is activated, members will be able to view and download their PF passbook through face login on ‘Umang’ app or EPFO ​​member portal.

• PF Balance and Contribution Tracking: Receipts of monthly contribution (Employer & Employee Share) and interest deposited by the company in the account can be checked in real-time.

To avail this feature you must have an active smartphone and camera:

1. Download Aadhaar FaceRD App: First of all the official website of UIDAI from Google Play Store. ‘AadhaarFaceRD’ Install the app (it works as a background service).

2. Open EPFO ​​portal or Umang app: Go to EPFO ​​section of EPFO’s Unified Member Portal (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in) or Umang App.

3. Select ‘Direct UAN Allotment’ option: given on home screen ‘Direct UAN Allotment by Employee’ Or ‘Face Authentication’ Tap Options.

4. Enter Aadhaar details: Enter your 12 digit Aadhaar number and name and tick Biometric Consent.

5. Complete the Face Scan: The camera will open on the screen. Look directly at the camera in adequate lighting and blink eyes as directed. The system will match the face with the Aadhaar database.

6. Generate and activate UAN: As soon as the face verification is successful, the new UAN number will flash on the screen and SMS will be sent to the registered mobile. With this your account will be activated immediately.

This step of EPFO ​​is not limited to convenience only, but is also a big milestone in terms of security. In the recent past, many cases of Aadhaar OTP theft and breach in PF accounts through fake documents were reported.

Live Face Authentication uses ‘Liveness Detection’ technology, which makes it completely impossible to commit fraud with a photo, video or cloned fingerprint. Apart from this, this technology already in use for submission of Digital Life Certificate for pensioners (EPS-95) will now become a security cover for the general shareholders also.