The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a mandatory retirement scheme for most salaried employees in India. You contribute 12% of basic salary; your employer matches it (3.67% to EPF, 8.33% to EPS). Interest is tax-free and historically ~8% p.a.

Key Features

• Employer match — Free money; maximize it
• Tax — 80C on contribution; interest and withdrawal tax-free if held 5+ years
• Withdrawal — Allowed for specific purposes (house, medical, unemployment) or at 58 (retirement)

For FIRE

EPF is one of the best risk-free returns in India. If you are salaried, max it out. It forms the debt/fixed-income core of many FIRE portfolios. Combine with PPF (if you hit EPF limit) and equity mutual funds for growth.

Voluntary Contribution (VPF)

You can contribute beyond 12% as VPF; employer need not match, but you get the same tax and interest benefits.