18. For the purposes of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Provident Fund shall be deemed to be a recognised provident fund within the meaning of clause (38) of section 2 of that Act:
Provided that nothing contained in the said Act shall operate to render ineffective any provision of the Provident Fund Scheme (under which the Provident Fund is established) which is repugnant to any of the provisions of that Act or of the rules made thereunder.