Budget 2018: Govt may raise equity investment limit for PF bodies

The government had, for the first time, allowed such funds, including the EPFO, to invest in the equity market in 2008.

The Union Budget for 2018-19 may likely announce a hike in investment limits for all non-government provident funds, superannuation, and gratuity funds in stock market-related instruments to at least 25 per cent from 15 per cent of its incremental corpus at present, sources said.

The move may benefit subscribers of schemes under Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, and provident fund trusts managed by private firms.

According to sources, the likely announcement in the Union Budget to increase equity investments by provident fund bodies prompted the EPFO to postpone the meeting of its finance, investment,