What is the Bulk UAN Generation?
Bulk UAN generation was assigned to the EPFO in order to enable the employer to call the shots and cater for individual employees' UANs in bulk. It simply means that employers can upload their employees' data in bulk and do not need to generate the UAN for each employee separately. This makes the process quicker and more efficient.
This measure is seen as broader digital inclusion and therefore brings many more workers belonging to the unorganised and workforce sectors into the formal PF system.
What is UAN?
Before understanding bulk UAN generation, the concept of UAN becomes necessary to explore.
The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit identification number provided by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation to employees under the EPF Scheme. The UAN provides a single identity to multiple PF Member IDs allotted to a single individual under different establishments for any number of periods.
The UAN empowers members to:
- Track PF contribution
- Transfer PF accounts across companies
- Withdraw PF amount
- View history of services
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What is the Bulk UAN Generation?
Bulk UAN Generation is a facility available through the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation that allows employers to generate UANs in bulk for several employees simultaneously. Employers can upload employee details through a preset format in bulk instead of generating them one by one.
Who is it beneficial for?
- Heavy industry and automation companies
- Construction companies
- App-based gig or delivery onboarding
- Seasonal industries
By using it, companies can simplify compliance and introduce employees into the EPF system more quickly.
Suggested read: UAN registration and activation | UAN login, generation
When is Bulk UAN Generation used?
Companies can use this facility as per their requirements:
1. Enrolling Huge Masses
Firms recruiting a significant number of employees can easily enrol them under EPF using the bulk UAN generator.
2. Access to Prior PF Accumulations
Employees previously covered under exempted PF trusts or whose PF accounts were not correctly linked can receive UAN generation to access accumulated funds.
3. Compliance and Recovery Cases
In cases of recovery of pending EPF dues or withdrawal of exemption status, bulk UAN generation helps register affected employees efficiently.
4. Dormant or Unlinked Employees
Employers can generate UANs for employees who were skipped due to paperwork or Aadhaar linking issues.
Bulk UAN Generation Without Aadhaar
Earlier, Aadhaar seeding was mandatory for UAN generation. EPFO has now provided relaxation in certain cases:
- Exempted or surrendered PF trust cases
- Legal recovery of arrear dues
- Non-linking of Aadhaar for employees
Employers may generate UANs based on available details such as Member ID without Aadhaar.
In such cases:
- UANs remain frozen until Aadhaar is linked
- Frozen UANs cannot be used for withdrawal or transfer
This process allows employees to retrieve former PF deposits even if Aadhaar details are incomplete.
How to generate UAN numbers in bulk?
Step 1 – Login to the Employer Portal
Log in to the Employer Portal using valid credentials.
Step 2 – Access Bulk UAN Generation Module
Navigate to the “Bulk UAN Generation” option in the dashboard.
Step 3 – Download the Prescribed Format
Download the prescribed Excel file available on the EPFO website.
Step 4 – Enter Employee Details
Enter accurate employee information:
- Name of the Employee
- Date of Birth
- Member ID
- PAN (if available)
- Other necessary details
Ensure details match EPFO records for verification.
Step 5 – Upload the File
Upload the completed file on the portal.
Step 6 – Receive Acknowledgement and Status
After validation, the system generates Bulk UANs and displays status for each employee.
Employers must inform employees about newly generated UANs and ensure Aadhaar linking for activation.
Advantages of Bulk UAN Generation
- Saves time on manual data entry
- Simplifies large-scale onboarding
- Helps bring unorganised workers on board
- Assists in recovery and compliance cases
- Facilitates prompt crediting of past PF dues
- Enhances overall EPFO compliance
Important Points to Remember
- UANs generated without Aadhaar remain frozen
- Frozen UANs cannot be used for withdrawal or transfer
- Aadhaar linking is necessary for activation
- The facility is accessible only through the official EPFO employer portal
- Employers should verify data accuracy before uploading
Role of EPFO Field Offices
EPFO field offices have a dedicated software module to assist in exceptional cases such as:
- Recovery of old PF dues
- Return of exempted trust-owned companies
- Incomplete employee data cases
Regional offices may use internal EPFO data (Member ID, payroll records) to generate UANs even without Aadhaar.
What will the Bulk UAN Generation look like in the future?
The introduction of this facility is considered a step toward expanding social security coverage in India. By relaxing Aadhaar dependency in special cases, EPFO ensures that more workers, especially in high-mobility sectors, can access PF benefits.
This movement supports financial inclusion and strengthens employee benefit systems.
Concluding Suggestions
Bulk UAN generation, introduced by EPFO, is a quick way for employers to generate multiple UANs. It reduces compliance delays and helps retrieve old dues while onboarding employees into the provident fund system.
By correctly using the EPFO bulk UAN generator, employers can streamline workforce management and promote access to social security benefits.