PF investment pattern amended: rupee bonds of IBRD, IFC, ADB and New Development Bank with at least three years’ outstanding maturity — S.O. 5009(E)
The Labour Ministry has amended the investment pattern notified under section 17(3)(a) of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. In the debt category, clause (c) of Category (ii) now reads: rupee bonds with an outstanding maturity of at least three years issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank.
Key facts
- In force
- Notification dated and published on 9 September 2026 (no separate commencement clause)
- Who it affects
- Provident funds investing under the pattern notified under section 17(3)(a) of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 — their trustees, employers and fund managers
- What it is
- Rule change
- Section
- Labour
- Published
- 9 September 2026
In 30 seconds
- Notification S.O. 5009(E) is dated 9 September 2026 and was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, the same day.
- It amends notification S.O. 1433(E) dated 29 May 2015, issued under section 17(3)(a) of the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
- The change is in the Table, under the heading “Debt Instruments and Related Investments”, against Category No. (ii): clause (c) is substituted.
- New clause (c) names four issuers: IBRD, IFC, ADB and New Development Bank.
- The bonds must be rupee bonds with an outstanding maturity of at least three years.
हिंदी में सार
श्रम और रोज़गार मंत्रालय ने अधिसूचना S.O. 5009(E) (9 सितंबर 2026) से EPF अधिनियम, 1952 की धारा 17(3)(क) के तहत 29 मई 2015 की निवेश पद्धति वाली अधिसूचना S.O. 1433(E) में संशोधन किया है। “ऋण लिखत तथा संबंधित निवेश” की श्रेणी (ii) का खंड (ग) बदला गया है: अब इसमें IBRD, IFC, एशियाई विकास बैंक और न्यू डेवलपमेंट बैंक द्वारा जारी, कम से कम तीन वर्ष की बकाया परिपक्वता वाले रुपया बॉन्ड आते हैं।
What has changed
By notification S.O. 5009(E) dated 9 September 2026, the Central Government has made a further amendment to its notification S.O. 1433(E) dated 29 May 2015. That 2015 notification was issued under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 17 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
The amendment touches one entry. In the Table, under the column “Category/Sub-Category”, under the heading “Debt Instruments and Related Investments”, against Category No. (ii), clause (c) has been substituted.
The new clause (c)
As substituted, the clause reads: “Rupee Bonds having an outstanding maturity of at least three years issued by institution of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank.”
| Element | As notified |
|---|---|
| Instrument | Rupee bonds |
| Maturity condition | Outstanding maturity of at least three years |
| Issuers named | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; International Finance Corporation; Asian Development Bank; New Development Bank |
| Where it sits | Debt Instruments and Related Investments — Category (ii), clause (c) |
What the notification does not say
The notification does not reproduce the clause it replaces, so the earlier wording cannot be compared from this document. It also has no separate commencement clause; it is dated 9 September 2026 and was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, on that date. No percentage limit or other ceiling is changed by it.
Earlier amendments to the same pattern
The footnote lists the amendments made to the 2015 notification before this one:
- S.O. 3035(E) dated 22 September 2016
- S.O. 28(E) dated 4 January 2021
- S.O. 1709(E) dated 29 April 2021
- S.O. 3892(E) dated 1 September 2023
What trustees and fund managers should do
Those who invest provident fund money under the pattern in S.O. 1433(E) should update their investment policy and eligible-securities list so that Category (ii), clause (c) matches the substituted text, and check that any rupee bond bought under this clause is issued by one of the four named institutions and has at least three years of outstanding maturity.
Questions and answers
Which notification has been amended?
S.O. 1433(E) dated 29 May 2015, issued under section 17(3)(a) of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The amending notification is S.O. 5009(E) dated 9 September 2026.
What does the new clause (c) allow?
Rupee bonds having an outstanding maturity of at least three years issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank.
Where does the clause sit in the investment pattern?
In the Table, under the heading “Debt Instruments and Related Investments”, against Category No. (ii), clause (c).
Does the notification say what the clause was before?
No. It only says clause (c) is substituted and gives the new text; the earlier wording is not reproduced.
Published 9 September 2026. Updated 6 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.