PM's mega employment booster: Jobs for 70 lakh youth; ₹2,400 crore transferred to the accounts of 15 lakh individuals..
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that over 70 lakh people across the country have secured employment so far under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana’ (PM-VBRY). He released incentives worth ₹2,400 crore to boost the creation of 15 lakh new jobs. This flagship employment-linked incentive scheme was launched by the government in August last year.
Its objective was to assist first-time job seekers and expand the social security net across various sectors. At an event, Modi disbursed ₹2,400 crore in incentives via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries to help generate 15 lakh employment opportunities.
Highlighting the scheme's achievements, Modi stated that approximately 70 lakh new jobs have been created so far, and an equal number of first-time job seekers have been brought under the social security ambit. He further noted that around 20 lakh youths have completed six months in their first jobs, while approximately 10 lakh beneficiaries have already received the incentive amount under the scheme upon reaching this milestone. According to Modi, this support goes far beyond mere financial aid; it reflects the nation's recognition of the youth's hard work and its confidence in their future.
**Job Creation: A National Mission**
Modi remarked that when the government, industry, and the youth work together, the pace of job creation accelerates. This initiative offers a glimpse of a new India where youth gain opportunities, industry receives a boost, and job creation becomes a national mission. Modi stated that the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana is much more than just an employment scheme.
It is an initiative designed to strengthen the aspirations of youth entering the workforce for the first time and to build a robust bridge between the industry and the workforce. He noted that while many schemes typically focus on either employees or employers, this program supports both simultaneously. He stated that the government stands with the youth embarking on their professional journeys and encourages institutions that create new employment opportunities. Modi emphasized that over the past twelve years, the government has worked to strengthen every avenue for employment.
Modi noted that significant efforts have been made in sectors ranging from infrastructure and innovation to manufacturing, the digital economy, space technology, and startups. Initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Vocal for Local’, efforts to take local products to global markets, and ‘Mission Manufacturing’ have expanded avenues for both employment and self-employment.
**Modernizing the EPFO**
The Prime Minister stated that the government is focusing on linking employment with security, dignity, and social security. He mentioned that technology is being utilized to modernize the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), simplify the pension system, and expand access to health insurance and affordable healthcare for millions of workers. This vision forms the basis of the labor reforms undertaken by the government.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the growing contribution of women to India's economic and social development. Modi emphasized that reforms related to night-shift work, the promotion of work-from-home opportunities, and the strengthening of workplace safety measures aim to further increase women's participation in the workforce.
He also underscored the importance of skilled talent, innovation, and quality in determining economic success in the twenty-first century. According to him, countries possessing these attributes will secure the greatest opportunities, and India holds unprecedented potential in all three areas. He stated that in the 21st century, opportunities will go to nations that foster skilled talent, encourage innovation, and maintain the highest standards of quality; he added that India possesses immense potential in these three domains.
14 Crore Jobs in 10 Years
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya stated that approximately 17 crore jobs were created between 2014 and 2024, whereas 2.9 crore jobs were generated in the ten years before 2014. Mandaviya noted that India's employment elasticity stood at 1.11 between 2017 and 2023—meaning employment grew by 1.11 percent for every 1 percent increase in Gross Value Added—compared to an employment elasticity of 0.008 recorded under previous governments. He also highlighted the decline in India's unemployment rate, which now stands at approximately 3.1 percent, remaining below the global average of 4.8 percent.
Key Highlights of PM-VBRY
PM-VBRY was launched on August 1, 2025, with the aim of promoting formal employment and providing incentives to create jobs.
Under Part A of the scheme, first-time employees registered with the EPFO, with a monthly income of up to ₹1 lakh, are eligible for an incentive equivalent to one month's salary (capped at ₹15,000), payable in two installments.
Under Part B of the scheme, employers generating additional employment are eligible for an incentive of up to ₹3,000 per month for each additional employee over a period of two years.
Employers in the manufacturing sector are eligible to receive incentives for an additional two years.
With a total budget of ₹99,446 crore, PM-VBRY aims to generate over 3.5 crore jobs over a two-year period.
Of these, approximately 1.92 crore beneficiaries are expected to join the workforce for the first time.
Since August 2025, more than 70 lakh first-time employees have been inducted into the formal workforce under PM-VBRY, with women accounting for approximately 30 percent of the beneficiaries.
Employees who remain in continuous employment for more than six months become eligible to receive benefits under this scheme.
