Bhubaneswar, July 4 -- The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a new framework that aims to settle eligible PF withdrawal claims within just three days, marking one of the biggest reforms to its claim settlement process in recent years.

The new system is expected to reduce delays by expanding automation and cutting manual intervention. Under the framework, eligible claims with complete KYC details will be processed within three days, while cases requiring additional verification may still take longer.

To improve accountability, officials responsible for unjustified delays beyond 20 days could face 12% penal interest, ensuring claims are processed within the prescribed timeline.

EPFO has also strengthened its au...