LIVE: BIG BOOST for employees! EPFO hikes interest rate on provident fund to 8.65% from 8.55%

EPFO Interest Rates: Retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced the much awaited interest rate hike on PF deposits for 2018-19. EPFO has 6 crore subscribers. "The proposal to declare interest rate for this fiscal is on the agenda of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) trustees meeting on February 21, 2019," a source said, according to PTI.

LIVE updates: 

- Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has hiked interest rate on employees' provident fund to 8.65% from 8.55% for the 2018-19 fiscal year, reports ANI.

- EPFO may announce an interest rate of 8.55 per cent on PF deposits for 2018-19

- "The interest rate is likely to be retained at 8.55 per cent for this fiscal as provided in 2017-18 as Lok Sabha elections are around the corner. However the EPFO's income estimates for 2018-19 has not been circulated among the trustees and will be tabled in the meeting," according to a source as per PTI.

- Earlier the sources had not dismissed completely speculations that interest rate on EPF deposits for this fiscal can be more than 8.55 per cent in view of impending general elections.

- The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) headed by Labour Minister is the apex decision making body of the EPFO which finalises rate of interest on PF deposits for a financial year.

- Once approved by the CBT, the proposal is required concurrence of the Finance Ministry.

- The interest rate is credited into the subscribers account after the Finance Ministry's approval.

- The EPFO had provided a five-year low rate of interest of 8.55 per cent to its subscribers for 2017-18. 

- The body had kept the interest rate at 8.65 per cent in 2016-17 and 8.8 per cent in 2015-16.

- The rate of interest was 8.5 per cent in 2012-13.

- It provided 8.75 per cent interest for 2013-14 as well as 2014-15.