India's PM-VBRY Adds 72 Lakh First-Time Formal Workers in 1 Year
Updated
Updated · ddindia.co.in · Aug 3
India's PM-VBRY Adds 72 Lakh First-Time Formal Workers in 1 Year
3 articles · Updated · ddindia.co.in · Aug 3
Summary
More than 72 lakh first-time employees joined India’s formal workforce in PM-VBRY’s first year since its August 1, 2025 launch, marking the latest milestone for the employment-linked incentive scheme.
₹99,446 crore has been earmarked for the programme, which runs through July 31, 2027 and aims to generate over 3.5 crore jobs, including 1.92 crore first-time workers, through an EPFO-linked framework.
First-time employees earning up to ₹1 lakh a month can receive a one-time incentive capped at ₹15,000, while employers get up to ₹3,000 a month for two years per eligible additional hire—longer in manufacturing.
More than 15 lakh beneficiaries have already received incentives, with women accounting for nearly 30% of beneficiaries, as the government pushes formalisation and social-security coverage through EPFO registration and DBT-based payments.