Section 1: Short title, extent, commencement and application

Finin2min analysis — what the section actually does

Full statutory text — Section 1

1. Short title, extent, commencement and application.—(1) This Act may be called the Code on
Social Security, 2020.
     (2) It extends to the whole of India.
    (3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint; and *different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Code and any
reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Code shall be construed as a reference to the
coming into force of that provision.
    (4) The applicability of the Chapters specified in columns (1) and (2) of the First Schedule shall, without
prejudice to the applicability of the other provisions of this Code, be such as is specified in corresponding
entry in column (3) of that Schedule.
    (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (4), where it appears to the Central Provident
Fund Commissioner, whether on an application made to him by the employer of an establishment or
otherwise, that the employer and majority of employees of that establishment have agreed that the
provisions of Chapter III should be made applicable to that establishment, the Central Provident Fund
Commissioner, may, by notification, apply the provisions of the said Chapter to that establishment on and
from the date of such agreement or from any subsequent date specified in the agreement:
     Provided that where the employer of an establishment to which the provisions of Chapter III applied
under this sub-section desires to come out of such applicability, he may make an application to the Central
Provident Fund Commissioner and the Central Provident Fund Commissioner shall, if satisfied that there
is an agreement between the employer and majority of the employees to this effect, make the provisions of
that Chapter inapplicable to such establishment, in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed by the Central Government.
    (6) The Central Government may, after giving not less than two months' notice of its intention so to do,
by notification, apply the provisions of this Code to any establishment employing not less than such number
of persons as may be specified in the notification.
    (7) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (4), where it appears to the Director General of
the Corporation, whether on an application made to him by the employer of an establishment or otherwise,
that the employer and majority of employees of that establishment have agreed that the provisions of
Chapter IV should be made applicable to that establishment, the Director General of the Corporation, may,

1*. 3rd May, 2021—S. 142, vide notification No. S.O. 1730(E), dated 30th April, 2021, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part
    II, sec. 3(ii).
  21st day of November, 2025—Ss.1 to 14, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 15, clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 16,
    sections 17 to 141, section 143, except the provisions of the Code specified at serial number (v) of S.O. 2060 (E), dated the 3rd
    May, 2023, sections 144 to 163, Items 1 and 2 and items 4 to 9 of sub-section (1) of section 164, clause (a) and clause (c) of
    sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 164, vide notification no. S.O. 5319 (E), dated 21st November, 2025, see Gazette
    of India, Extraordinary, Part II, s. 3(ii).

by notification, apply the provisions of the said Chapter to that establishment on and from the date of such
agreement or from any subsequent date specified in the agreement:
    Provided that where the employer of an establishment to which the provisions of Chapter IV applied
under this sub-section desires to come out of such applicability, he may make an application to the Director
General of the Corporation and Director General of the Corporation shall, if satisfied that there is an
agreement between the employer and majority of the employees to this effect, make the provisions of that
Chapter inapplicable to such establishment, in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed by the Central Government.
    (8) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (4), an establishment to which any Chapter
applies at the first instance shall continue to be applied thereafter even if the number of employees therein
at any subsequent time falls below the threshold specified in the First Schedule in respect of that Chapter.

How to apply this provision

1. Primary statutory test — (1) This Act may be called the Code on Social Security, 2020.
2. Additional operative limb — (3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint; and *different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Code and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Code shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.
3. Qualification / exception to test — Provided that where the employer of an establishment to which the provisions of Chapter III applied under this sub-section desires to come out of such applicability, he may make an application to the Central Provident Fund Commissioner and the Central Provident Fund Commissioner shall, if satisfied that there is an agreement between the employer and…
4. Numerical or timing control — (6) The Central Government may, after giving not less than two months' notice of its intention so to do, by notification, apply the provisions of this Code to any establishment employing not less than such number of persons as may be specified in the notification.
5. Central Rule mapping — 3. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
6. Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Employer, Employee / worker, Central Government, Corporation / EPFO / Board.

Rules, forms and cross-references

A direct concordance is not exhaustive. Central/State jurisdiction, schemes, authority appointments, saved instruments and later notifications may change the practical route without changing the section wording.

Worked example

Q&A — Section 1

Source & verification trail