More than ₹9,300 crore belonging to workers lies unclaimed in nearly 31 lakh inoperative Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) accounts across India, according to an exclusive Right to Information (RTI) response. This significant sum, precisely ₹9,330 crore spread across 30.91 lakh accounts as of March 31, 2026, underscores a long-standing issue within the nation’s retirement savings framework.

The sheer scale of this unclaimed corpus becomes evident when compared to major public expenditures. The amount is roughly equivalent to the ₹10,169 crore the Centre has spent on the UDAN regional connectivity scheme since its inception in 2016. It also mirrors the Union government’s 2026-27 allocation for the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). To put it further into perspective, government estimates from 2014 suggest the cost of establishing an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was ₹1,750 crore. Adjusted for inflation to 2026, this figure rises to approximately ₹2,934 crore, meaning the unclaimed EPF money could fund the construction of three IITs, with over ₹500 crore still remaining.

This disclosure arrives as the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) implements the new EPF Scheme, 2026, which took effect on June 29, replacing the 1952 scheme. The updated framework aims to simplify provident fund rules and enhance digitalization for nearly eight crore active EPFO subscribers. However, the RTI data reveals the ongoing challenge of dormant accounts, even amidst these modernizing reforms.

An inoperative EPF account is typically one where no contributions have been made for 36 months, and the account holder has not applied for withdrawal. Reasons for accounts becoming dormant often include job changes where funds are not transferred, small balances forgotten over time, or the death of an account holder without a nominee coming forward to claim the funds. The EPFO has mechanisms for members to trace and claim their dormant funds, including an online helpdesk and a consolidated statement of accounts.

While the problem remains substantial, there has been a modest improvement over the past year. The number of inoperative EPF accounts decreased by approximately 92,000, from 31.83 lakh on March 31, 2025, to 30.91 lakh a year later. Concurrently, the unclaimed amount saw a reduction of ₹851 crore, falling from ₹10,181 crore to ₹9,330 crore. Despite this decline, the persistence of nearly 31 lakh dormant accounts holding thousands of crores highlights the need for continued efforts to reunite workers with their rightful savings.

India Today’s RTI application sought a six-year trend of inoperative accounts and their balances. However, the EPFO stated it could only provide information for 2025 and 2026, explaining that its Inoperative Accounts Cell (IAC) was established during 2025-26 and earlier data is not maintained by this specific cell. Furthermore, the RTI also requested details on Aadhaar-linked inoperative accounts, the amounts held within them, and the status of auto-settlement for these accounts. The EPFO declined to provide this information, citing Section 8(1)(e) of the RTI Act, which exempts disclosure of information held in a fiduciary relationship. Similarly, data on high-value dormant accounts, specifically those exceeding ₹5 lakh, was not provided, with the EPFO stating such information is not maintained in the requested format.

The significant amount of unclaimed funds represents a critical challenge for the EPFO and millions of Indian workers. It underscores the importance of greater awareness among subscribers about managing their provident fund accounts, ensuring proper nomination, and facilitating easier claim processes. As the new EPF Scheme, 2026, aims for greater digital integration, it is hoped that these reforms will eventually contribute to a more efficient system where fewer retirement savings remain unclaimed, ensuring workers can access their hard-earned money when they need it.