NE NEWS BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, APR 7
In a significant step towards building future-ready public administrators, the National Law University (NLU) phase of the Induction Training Programme for Direct Recruit Enforcement Officers/Accounts Officers (EO/AO), Batch 2025 of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) commenced at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar on April 6, 2026.
- NLU phase of EPFO EO/AO Batch 2025 begins at GNLU
- Focus on legal acumen and constitutional values
- Shift from enforcement to facilitation-based governance
- Emphasis on rigorous, field-oriented training
- 262 officers selected through UPSC undergoing structured programme
Inaugural Push: Building Legal Foundations for Governance
The programme was inaugurated by Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS), alongside senior officials and academic leaders.
Shri Kumar Rohit emphasised the importance of developing a strong legal and institutional understanding to enable officers to discharge their responsibilities effectively and with sensitivity. He called upon the officers to emerge as agents of positive change, aligned with the national objectives of Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business.
Law Meets Administration: Constitutional Values at the Core
The training places strong emphasis on aligning administrative action with constitutional principles and the rule of law.
Prof. (Dr.) Girish R. highlighted the significance of the rule of law in India’s constitutional framework and underscored the need for public officials to remain conscious of constitutional values while performing their duties. He stated that the training at GNLU would provide participants with exposure to important legal dimensions relevant to their future roles in public administration and regulatory functions.
Rigour & Readiness: Training for Real-World Challenges
The programme underscores disciplined preparation and conceptual clarity as key to field effectiveness.
Dr. Hardik H. Parikh remarked, “The more you sweat in training ground, less you bleed in battlefield,” emphasising that sustained preparation and conceptual clarity are indispensable for effective performance in the field.
Evolving Role: From Enforcement to Facilitation
The training reflects the changing nature of governance, where enforcement officers act as facilitators and partners.
Shri Manoranjan Kumar observed that the role of Enforcement Officers has undergone a significant transformation in line with the changing governance paradigm from a framework primarily centred on regulation and inspection to one increasingly anchored in facilitation, trust, and partnership.
He further noted that officers must combine legal vigilance with empathy and citizen-centric service.
Nationwide Cohort: Comprehensive Capacity Building in Action
The programme brings together officers from across India, reflecting EPFO’s national footprint and commitment to structured training.
The Induction Training Programme for 262 Direct Recruit EO/AO officers, selected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), has been designed as a comprehensive five-phase capacity-building initiative.
The curriculum spans:
- Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
- Social security law and policy
- Compliance, adjudication, and enforcement practices
- Administrative, financial, and technological competencies
