EPFO Issues Updated Transfer Policy for Group ‘C’ Cadres, 2025
The Employee’s Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has released important clarifications and modifications to the Transfer Policy for Group ‘C’ cadres through a circular dated 25 November 2025. These updates aim to ensure fair staffing, improved transparency, and smoother processing of transfer requests across all EPFO offices.
This circular applies to all Group ‘C’ employees, including Social Security Assistants (SSAs), and brings significant changes to transfer timelines, grievance handling, and zonal responsibilities.
Applicability of the Transfer Policy
The circular clearly states that the updated Transfer Policy applies to all Group ‘C’ employees in EPFO. This ensures uniformity in transfer procedures across all offices, including Regional Offices (ROs), District Offices (DOs), Zonal Training Institutes (ZTIs), and the Head Office.
No Mandatory Transfer for SSAs After 10 Years
A key clarification issued by EPFO is that SSAs are not mandatorily required to be transferred after completing 10 years in the same office.
However, each Zone must ensure equitable and judicious distribution of manpower so that no office faces staff shortages compared to others. This step is essential for maintaining seamless operations and timely delivery of services to EPF members.
Revised Inter-State Transfer Schedule
The major update in the circular is the modification of inter-state transfer timelines. To align the schedule with AGT (Annual General Transfer), EPFO has introduced the following revised timeline:
Updated Timelines for Inter-State Transfers
| S.N. | Activity | Existing Timeline | Revised Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submitting inter-state transfer requests (mutual transfers must be in pairs) | 01–15 October | 01–10 December |
| 2 | Scrutiny of requests | 16 October–15 November | 10–30 December |
| 3 | Disposal & issue of transfer orders | On or before 30 November | On or before 15 January |
| 4 | Online grievance submission | By 5 December | By 20 January |
| 5 | Grievance Committee recommendations | By 20 December | By 30 January (By Zonal Grievance Committee) |
| 6 | Disposal of grievances | On or before 31 December | On or before 15 February (By EPFO Head Office) |
These changes give employees more time to submit requests and allow EPFO offices to handle transfers more smoothly.
Zonal-Level Grievance Committees Introduced
To streamline the grievance-handling process, EPFO has mandated the creation of a Grievance Committee in each state, headed by the Zonal ACC(HQ)/ACC.
Key Points
- The committee will review all inter-state transfer–related grievances.
- It must forward each grievance along with specific recommendations to the Head Office within the prescribed timeline.
- Grievances submitted through any channel other than the official mechanism will not be entertained.
This structure improves accountability and ensures faster resolution of transfer-related issues.
Approval from Competent Authority
The circular clearly mentions that all these updates have been approved by the Competent Authority, making them officially applicable to all EPFO offices with immediate effect.
Conclusion
The updated Transfer Policy for Group ‘C’ cadres marks an important step by EPFO to improve transparency, reduce delays, and balance manpower distribution across its nationwide network. With the revised timelines and clarified rules, employees can expect a more streamlined and fair transfer process in 2025 and beyond.