Section2
The Provident Funds Act, 1925

Definitions

In force From 01 Apr 1926 Act 19 of 1925 As on 16 Oct 2026

Act 19 of 1925 Ministry Labour and Employment Enacted 27 Aug 1925 In force 01 Apr 1926

Section 2 of the Provident Funds Act, 1925 deals with definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-- (a) "compulsory deposit" means a subscription to, or deposit in, a Provident Fund which, under the rules of the Fund, is not, until the happening of some specified contingency, repayable on demand otherwise than for the pur The Act came into force on 01 Apr 1926.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,--

(a) "compulsory deposit" means a subscription to, or deposit in, a Provident Fund which, under the rules of the Fund, is not, until the happening of some specified contingency, repayable on demand otherwise than for the purpose of the payment of, premia in respect of a policy of life insurance, 1[or the payment of subscriptions or premia in respect of a family pension fund], and includes any contribution 2*** and any interest or increment which has accrued under the rules of the fund on any such subscription, deposit or contribution, and also any such subscription, deposit, contribution, interest or increment remaining to the credit of the subscriber or depositor after the happening of any such contingency;

(b) "contribution" means any amount credited in a Provident Fund, by 3[any authority administering the Fund], by way of addition to, 4[a subscription to, or deposit or balance at the credit of an individual account in,] the Fund; and contributory Provident Fund means a Provident Fund the rules of which provide for the crediting of contributions;

(c) "dependant" means any of the following relatives of - a deceased subscriber to, or a depositor in, a Provident Fund, namely, a wife, husband, parent, child, minor brother, unmarried sister and a deceased son's widow and child, and, where no parent of the subscriber or depositor is alive, a paternal grand-parent;

(d) "Government Provident Fund means a Provident Fund, other than a Railway Provident Fund, constituted by the authority of 5 the Secretary of State, the Central Government, the Crown Representative or any State Government] for any class or classes of 6[persons in the service of the Government] or 7[of persons employed in educational institutions or employed by bodies existing solely for educational purposes,]8 and references in this Act to the Government shall be construed accordingly;]

(e) "Provident Fund" means a fund in which subscriptions or deposits of any class or classes of employees are received and held on their individual accounts, and includes any contributions 9*** and any interest or increment accruing on such subscriptions, deposits or contributions under the rules of the Fund;

10[(f) "Railway administration" means--

(i) any company administering a railway or tramway in 11 any part of India] either under a special Act of Parliament 12 [of the United Kingdom] or an Indian law, or under contract with the Government, or

(ii) the manager of any railway or tramway administered by the Central Government] or by a State Government,

and includes, in any case referred to in sub-clause (ii) the 13[Central Government] or the. State Government, as the case may be;]

(g) "Railway Provident Fund" means a Provident Fund constituted by the authority of a rail Way administration for any class or classes of its employees.

Section 2, The Provident Funds Act, 1925 (Act 19 of 1925).

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty vs Union Of India

    Supreme Court of India 17 Oct 2023 Binding (SC) - Persuasive On Specific Holdings Reportable 2023 INSC 920

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    The Supreme Court held that while there is no fundamental right to marry under the Indian Constitution, LGBTQ+ persons have a constitutional right to enter into abiding cohabitational relationships grounded in Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, and 25. The Special Marriage Act 1954 cannot be read down to permit same-sex marriages due to semantic impossibilities and interconnected gendered provisions. The Court recognized that existing laws create indirect discriminatory impact on queer couples by denying them access to spousal benefits in employment, succession, adoption, and taxation. The Court declined to issue directions for marriage equality, finding such matters require comprehensive parliamentary action. Instead, the Court directed the Union Government to constitute a high-powered committee to examine the discriminatory impact of existing laws and regulations on same-sex couples and recommend appropriate remedies. Transgender persons in heterosexual relationships can marry under existing laws through harmonious interpretation with the Transgender Persons Act.

    On this section: Define dependent as wife or husband; restrict benefits to spouses; demonstrate economic impact of non-recognition for same-sex couples

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Questions about Section 2

What have the courts held on Section 2 of the Provident Funds Act?

Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty vs Union Of India (17 Oct 2023) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Define dependent as wife or husband; restrict benefits to spouses; demonstrate economic impact of non-recognition for same-sex couples.

How do I find court cases under Section 2 of the Provident Funds Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Provident Funds Act 1925 2, section 2 Provident Funds Act 1925, section 2 of the Provident Funds Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty vs Union Of India (17 Oct 2023).

When did Section 2 of the Provident Funds Act come into force?

Section 2 of the Provident Funds Act, cited as Provident Funds Act 1925 2, came into force on 01 Apr 1926, having been enacted on 27 Aug 1925. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 16 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.