New Delhi: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has issued circular regarding discontinuation of extension of timeline for mandatory Aadhaar Seeding with UAN for filing of ECR in respect of Establishments in the North East Region and Certain Classes of Establishments beyond 31 October 2025.

The mandatory requirement for filing Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) only for those members whose Aadhaar number is seeded and verified with their Universal Account Number (UAN) was introduced with effect from 01 June 2021.

Considering the implementation challenges initially faced by employers and employees, several extensions were provided through the cited circulars and Ministry of Labour & Employment communications. These relaxations specifically covered:

North East Region (NER): States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

Specific Industries: Beedi-making, Building & Construction, and Plantation industries (including Tea, Coffee, Cardamom, Pepper, Jute, Rubber, Cinchona, Cashewnuts, etc.).

The latest extension, allowed the above categories time until 31 October 2025.

EPFO has however noted that over the past four years, adequate opportunities have been provided to complete Aadhaar-UAN seeding and verification. Current pendency is marginal and continues to decline steadily.

In order to prevent further dependency on recurring extensions, it has been decided not to grant any further extension, said EPFO.

The retirement fund body has also asked all Zonal Offices (ZOs) and Regional Offices (ROs) to immediately commence intensive sensitisation and awareness drives targeting the concerned employers. 

Employers must be clearly informed that ECR filing for the wage month of November 2025 onwards will be permitted only for members whose Aadhaar is duly seeded and verified with UAN, without exception, EPFO added.

New Delhi: The Department of Public Enterprises under the Finance Ministry has announced that Numaligarh Refinery in Assam has been granted the Navratna status.

Department of Public Enterprises in a post on X wrote, “Hon’ble Finance Minister has approved the upgradation of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Navratna CPSE. NRL will be the 27th Navratna amongst the CPSEs. NRL is a Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas CPSE with an annual turn over of Rs 25,147 crores and net profit of Rs 1,608 crores for FY 2024-25.” 

Hon’ble Finance Minister has approved the upgradation of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Navratna CPSE. NRL will be the 27th Navratna amongst the CPSEs. NRL is a Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas CPSE with an annual turn over of Rs 25,147 crores and net profit of Rs 1,608… pic.twitter.com/SRLr8bfcHN
— Department of Public Enterprises (@DPE_GoI) December 2, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he was grateful to to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the grant of the prestigious Navratna status to Numaligarh Refinery.

Sarma wrote on X, “I am grateful to Adarniya Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji for his faith in Assam’s oil & gas sector and his guidance in taking it forward. This milestone achievement would not have been possible without the unstinted support of Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri ji.” 

Proud moment for Assam!@NRL_MoPNG is now a Navratna PSE.

Not too long ago, it was on the verge of losing its PSU status but with the Union Govt’s support, we reposed our faith in the enterprise’s ability & enhanced our stake in it and within 4 years it has become a Navratna. pic.twitter.com/4S1nQmXgmt
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) December 2, 2025

Oil India Ltd has majority shareholding (69.63%) in NRL, while the Assam government has 26% and Engineers India Ltd 4.37% shareholding.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri posted on X saying he was delighted and proud for Navratna status to NRL.

“This recognises NRL’s strong performance and its ambitious growth path, from the ongoing NREP refinery expansion to the recently inaugurated ABEPL bamboo-based 2G bioethanol plant that is driving energy security and green growth from Assam and the North East,” Puri posted on X. 

Delighted and proud to share that under the leadership of Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd has been accorded Navratna status.

This recognises NRL’s strong performance and its ambitious growth path, from the ongoing NREP refinery expansion to the recently… pic.twitter.com/wn2a4gZWTK
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) December 2, 2025

The Minister congratulated NRL, promoter Oil India Ltd, equity partner Engineers India Ltd and the Assam government, adding that the company’s steady rise reflects the Centre’s push for energy self-reliance and green-transition pathways. 

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