Supreme Court Seeks EPF Wage Ceiling Review

• 07 Jan 2026

On 6th January 2026, the Supreme Court directed the Central government and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation to take a decision within four months on revising the wage ceiling under the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, which has remained unchanged for over a decade.

Key Points

• Supreme Court Direction: The Supreme Court of India has asked the Central government and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation to decide on revising the EPF wage ceiling within four months.
• Long-Pending Issue: The wage ceiling under the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme has remained fixed at ₹15,000 per month for the past 11 years.
• Impact on Workers: The Court noted that the stagnant ceiling has excluded a large section of workers from EPFO coverage, undermining the scheme’s objective of providing social security to organised sector employees.
• Nature of Petition: The PIL was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, highlighting the adverse impact of the unchanged wage limit on employee welfare.
• Arguments by Petitioners: The petition contended that the existing wage ceiling is arbitrary and irrational, with no linkage to inflation, minimum wages, or growth in per capita income.
• Ignored Recommendations: It was pointed out that despite repeated recommendations by expert bodies and Parliamentary committees, the wage ceiling has not been revised.