Govt Forms High-Level Panel to Examine RBI’s Advisory on EPFO Investment Rules

The government forms an expert panel to reassess how India’s largest retirement fund invests over ₹23 lakh crore in savings.

How safe is the money that millions of Indian workers have entrusted to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)? This question has prompted the government to establish a high-level panel to examine the RBI's advisory on EPFO investments.

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s internal report submitted in August 2025, the EPFO’s fund management and accounting systems need reform to ensure stronger governance, digital tracking, and higher returns. 

The Ministry of Labour and Employment announced that the new Government panel on EPFO funds will review all recommendations and submit a detailed plan by December 2025.

RBI Advisory on EPFO Investments: What Triggered the Move

The RBI’s advisory, shared with the Labour Ministry, reviewed EPFO’s portfolio worth ₹23.15 lakh crore as of 31 March 2025. The report found that the organisation’s investment mix leans heavily toward state and central government bonds, leaving limited exposure to equities and market-linked assets.

RBI’s review highlighted that EPFO redeems its equity holdings in a fixed pattern rather than responding to market cycles. This practice could reduce the potential long-term yield on investments. The central bank suggested a structural overhaul, including the implementation of modern risk assessment tools, independent fund management, and real-time audit trails.

Below is a summary based on data from the RBI report (2025) and Business Standard coverage:
 

EPFO’s investment strategy has been conservative for decades. The RBI now wants to modernise this approach by linking portfolio decisions to market data and risk tolerance levels.

EPFO Investment Review Committee: What It Will Do

The new EPFO investment review committee has been tasked to evaluate how funds are allocated and managed. Its members include senior officials from the RBI, Finance Ministry, and Labour Ministry. The committee will review asset allocation, accounting practices, and compliance systems.

EPFO’s own data, shared in its Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in June 2025, shows that ₹4,06,551.44 crore was invested during FY 2024–25, and the total managed corpus reached ₹23,15,913.93 crore. The RFP also noted the need for external concurrent auditors to ensure compliance with investment norms.

Here is a glance at the fund’s composition as per the Annual Report 2023–24 (EPFO official site):
 

These figures reveal why the RBI guidelines for EPFO investments stress diversification. The panel’s report is expected to include a phased plan to rebalance the portfolio over the next few years.

The next section of this evaluation will focus on digital tracking, accounting reforms, and public disclosure systems.

EPFO Investment Policy Evaluation: Lessons From Past Decisions

In 2023, reports had already raised concerns about EPFO’s stagnant returns. An article titled “EPFO’s Portfolio and Return Challenges” published by Moneycontrol (link) noted that average returns were around 8.25%, even as the equity market delivered higher gains.

The new panel formation is a continuation of that concern, but this time with a more structured response. The move also builds upon RBI’s earlier observation that EPFO must separate its regulatory role from its fund management function, to prevent internal conflicts.

A comparison of key decisions over the past three years shows how the current action represents a shift in strategy:
 

This shift marks a growing recognition that EPFO’s operations need a technical and data-driven framework rather than administrative oversight alone.

Government Panel On EPFO Funds: What’s Different This Time

The Government panel on EPFO funds is not only reviewing investments but also revisiting how fund data is managed and audited. The RBI’s 2025 report mentioned that outdated accounting software and manual data entry often delay fund reconciliation.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has started modernising EPFO systems with digital dashboards and automated reconciliation tools. It has also proposed using External Concurrent Auditors (ECAs) for continuous review.

This change reflects the broader RBI guidelines for EPFO investments, which focus on transparency and traceability. The RBI has suggested that EPFO’s future accounting model should be similar to pension fund systems used by the National Pension System (NPS).

Connecting With Past Policy Reactions

This is not the first time Indian financial authorities have taken steps to reform a big public institution. During 2016 demonetisation, banks created new digital systems to manage liquidity and payments. In 2018, after the IL&FS crisis, the government changed debt-investment rules to reduce the risk from weak securities.

The policy approach in 2025 follows the same idea, find the problem early, form expert groups and make changes in stages. The review of the EPFO investment policy shows the government’s focus on keeping workers’ savings safe while improving long-term returns.

As LoansJagat explained in “Why More Indians Are Switching to Digital Banks – The 2025 Trend”, India’s financial system is becoming more digital and disciplined, helping both banks and customers manage funds better. 

Conclusion

The EPFO investment review committee is expected to present its report by December 2025. The panel will make recommendations on asset diversification, audit control, and digital fund management. It will also study how to align EPFO’s returns with inflation without increasing risk for subscribers.

Once accepted, these proposals could reshape how EPFO handles its massive corpus. Experts believe this may include a higher share in government-approved equity instruments and stronger oversight by independent auditors.

The coming months will test how well the new structure can balance growth with security. If the committee’s report is implemented effectively, it could set a new benchmark for public fund management in India.
 

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