<span style="color: #222222;">The provisional payroll data of EPFO published today highlights a growing trend with the addition of over 12 lakh net subscribers during February this year. Despite COVID-19 pandemic, EPFO has added around 69 lakh net subscribers during the current financial year.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The data reflects growth of 3.52 per cent in net subscribers addition in February, this year over January 2021. Year-on-year comparison of payroll data indicates an increase of 19.63 per cent in net subscribers as compared to the corresponding period in February 2020. Labour and Employment Ministry said, the growth may partly be attributed to various e-initiatives taken by EPFO for seamless and uninterrupted service delivery in addition to the policy support for formalization of the economy through schemes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana amid COVID -19 pandemic.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Age-wise analysis indicates that during February 2021, the age-bracket of 22 to 25 has registered the highest number of net enrollments with around 3.29 lakh net subscribers addition. Gender-wise analysis reflects addition of around 2.60 lakh net female subscribers in February this year which is 21 per cent of total net addition during the month. Pan India comparison shows that Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are in the forefront of net payroll addition. These five states contributed over 54 per cent of the total net subscribers additions across all the age-groups by adding over 38 lakh net subscribers during the current financial year.</span><br />