The UAN (Universal Account Number) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to every employee who contributes to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) in India. The EPF is a mandatory retirement savings scheme for employees in India, and the UAN acts as a centralized identification number for all the member IDs (PF Account numbers) allotted to an individual by different employers.
The UAN helps in linking multiple member IDs allotted to a single individual, making it easier to track and manage EPF contributions throughout their career. It also facilitates the portability of EPF accounts when an employee changes jobs.
Employees can obtain their UAN from their employers, and once activated, they can access various EPF services online, such as checking their EPF balance, updating personal details, and initiating EPF withdrawals. The UAN has streamlined and simplified the EPF process for both employees and employers.