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VISHWAS 2026 EPFO Scheme: Eligibility & Process

A source-controlled explainer for the one-time EPFO damages/penalty dispute-resolution scheme.

Effective 29 Jun 2026Six-month windows128 linked
Finin2min summary: VISHWAS, 2026 is a one-time EPFO dispute-resolution route for eligible damages/penalty matters. PIB states it was notified as part of the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 525(E)), took effect on 29 June 2026 and runs for six months.
Legal linkageEPF & MP Act s14B / Social Security Code s128
Start29 June 2026
WindowSix months
Source classGazette scheme + official PIB guidance

Which cases are described as eligible?

Reduced rate framework

Official PIB guidance states the special scheme uses reduced damages rates ranging from 0.25% to 1.00% per month, depending on the default period. Do not use that range alone to calculate liability: the exact default bucket, scheme text and portal computation must be checked.

Example

An establishment has an old damages order that is under challenge. The scheme category may be relevant because ongoing litigation is one of the published eligibility buckets. The next step is not to apply a generic percentage: identify the default period, the amount/payment history and the relevant VISHWAS schedule/process in the 2026 EPF Scheme and EPFO workflow.

SEO Q&A

Is VISHWAS 2026 an EPF amnesty from principal contribution?

No. The official description is a dispute-resolution mechanism for damages/penalty issues. It should not be described as a waiver of underlying employee/employer PF contributions.

Does VISHWAS 2026 apply to matters already in court?

Official PIB material includes orders challenged before judicial forums among the covered categories, subject to the Scheme conditions and procedure.

Which provision of the Social Security Code is linked?

PIB expressly links VISHWAS to section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 alongside legacy section 14B of the EPF & MP Act.

Official guidance: PIB, 17 July 2026 · PIB reduced-rate explainer, 15 July 2026 · Social Security Code s128 analysis