Deadline Alert! Don't Miss Out On The Subsidy, Link Aadhaar With Bank Account Now For ELI Scheme

Aadhaar Link Deadline: As per the latest official circular, the EPFO has extended the timeline for activating Universal Account Numbers (UAN) and linking bank accounts with Aadhaar till June 30, 2025.

Beneficiaries under the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme have been given a fresh deadline by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to complete a key requirement.

As per the latest official circular, the EPFO has extended the timeline for activating Universal Account Numbers (UAN) and linking bank accounts with Aadhaar till June 30, 2025.

This update comes as a continuation of several prior extensions. The original directive was issued on November 22, 2024, with the first deadline set for November 30, 2024. Since then, the date has been pushed multiple times via follow-up notifications issued on December 4, December 12, February 6, February 21, and March 3, Mint reported. The most recent circular, dated May 30, 2025, has now fixed the final deadline as the end of June.

“The competent authority has granted an extension of timeline for UAN activation and aadhaar seeding in bank Account till June 30, 2025,”  the May circular stated.

UAN Activation Crucial for ELI Subsidy Payouts

The ELI scheme, introduced as part of the Union Budget 2024–25, aims to encourage employment generation by offering direct financial support. It targets two categories of employees—Scheme A, meant for first-time entrants to the workforce, and Scheme B, designed to support job creation within the manufacturing sector. Those qualifying under Scheme A must be earning a salary of less than Rs 1 lakh per month and are eligible to receive the subsidy in three installments.

To facilitate this, Aadhaar seeding in bank accounts and UAN activation are essential, as the scheme uses the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism for disbursement. In the initial circular, the EPFO had clearly outlined the responsibilities of employers: “Since, the benefits under ELI Scheme, will be disbursed through DBT to eligible employees, Employers are urged to ensure UAN activation and AADHAAR seeding in Bank Account in respect of all their employees who have joined in the current financial year, starting with the latest joinees. The concerned EPFO offices may kindly be contacted for necessary guidance in this matter, if required.”

The move is aligned with directions from the Ministry of Labour & Employment, aiming to ensure that all eligible employees benefit from the incentives announced in the budget. EPFO has reiterated that timely compliance is crucial, as no further extensions may be granted beyond June 30.