Section 4 of the EPF Act, 1952: Power to Add to Schedule I

Section 4 of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 empowers the Central Government to add an industry to Schedule I by notification in the Official Gazette when it considers that a provident fund scheme should be framed for employees of that industry.

Legal text checked against the official India Code consolidation stated to be current as on 15 January 2026.

Meaning and purpose of Section 4

Schedule I identifies industries relevant to the statutory coverage framework of the Act. Section 4 creates a mechanism by which the Central Government can expand that Schedule without requiring the Schedule itself to remain fixed to the industries originally listed in the enactment.

The provision has two parts. Sub-section (1) deals with the Central Government's power to add an industry by Gazette notification. Sub-section (2) requires notifications issued under sub-section (1) to be laid before Parliament as soon as may be after issue.

Text of Section 4 - Power to add to Schedule I

Section 4. Power to add to Schedule I.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to Schedule I any other industry in respect of the employees whereof it is of opinion that a Provident Fund Scheme should be framed under this Act, and thereupon the industry so added shall be deemed to be an industry specified in Schedule I for the purpose of this Act.

(2) All notifications under sub-section (1) shall be laid before Parliament, as soon as may be, after they are issued.

How Section 4 operates

1. Power rests with the Central Government

The statutory authority under Section 4(1) is the Central Government. The power is exercised through a notification published in the Official Gazette.

2. The power concerns an industry

The Government may add another industry to Schedule I when it forms the opinion that a Provident Fund Scheme should be framed under the Act for employees of that industry.

3. Addition changes the legal status of the industry

Once added by notification, the industry is deemed to be an industry specified in Schedule I for the purposes of the Act. Section 4 should therefore be read with the Act's provisions governing application and coverage, particularly Section 1.

4. Parliamentary laying requirement

Section 4(2) requires every notification issued under sub-section (1) to be laid before Parliament as soon as may be after it is issued.

Section 4 and Schedule I

Schedule I is expressly linked to Section 4. It contains industries specified for the purposes of the Act and reflects additions made through statutory notifications over time. For the current consolidated position, readers should verify the latest official text and applicable Gazette notifications.

Important: Section 4 is an enabling provision for adding industries to Schedule I. Whether a particular factory or establishment is actually covered can also depend on other provisions of the Act, including Section 1, Section 3, Section 16, applicable notifications, and the facts of the establishment.

Official legal resources

For authoritative verification, see the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 on India Code and the EPF Act, 1952 published by EPFO.