PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana 2026: Get Up to Rs. 15,000 Incentive for First-Time Employees

PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana 2026

The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is an employment-linked incentive scheme introduced by the Government of India to encourage formal employment, support first-time employees and motivate employers to create additional jobs. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Under Part A, eligible first-time employees can receive an incentive equivalent to one month of their EPF wage, subject to a maximum of Rs. 15,000. The amount is payable in two instalments after fulfilling the prescribed employment and contribution conditions. Under Part B, eligible employers can receive incentives for generating additional employment.

The scheme became effective on 1 August 2025. The registration period covers eligible employment joining dates from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027.

PM-VBRY Scheme 2026 – Overview

What Is the Rs. 15,000 Incentive?

Under Part A of PM-VBRY, a first-time employee who meets the scheme conditions can receive an incentive equivalent to one completed month of EPF wage, subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 15,000. It is not an unconditional cash benefit for every person who gets a job. The employee must qualify as a first-time EPFO contributor and satisfy the wage, employment and contribution requirements.

PM-VBRY Incentive – Two Instalments

The actual incentive is calculated using the employee’s EPF wage and the scheme formula. Therefore, every eligible employee may not receive the full Rs. 15,000. The second instalment is to be placed in an appropriate savings instrument or deposit account as specified under the scheme guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria for Employees

Employees applying for the first-time employee incentive under Part A must meet the following conditions:

• The employee must be a first-time contributor to EPFO or an exempted Provident Fund Trust before joining the eligible establishment.
• The date of joining must fall between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027.
• Gross wages at the time of joining must not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 per month.
• The establishment must be covered under the EPF and MP Act, 1952.
• The employer must file the required Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) and deposit the applicable contributions.
• At least six continuous months of eligible employment and contributions are required for the first instalment.
• The employee must generate and authenticate the UAN through Face Authentication Technology available on the UMANG App.
• The employee must complete the prescribed Financial Literacy Programme for the second instalment.

The scheme guidelines define a first-time employee as a person who was not a contributing member of EPFO or an exempted Trust before the scheme commenced and whose first contribution is received during the scheme registration period.

Part B – Incentive for Employers

PM-VBRY also provides incentives to eligible establishments that generate sustained additional employment. The employer incentive is calculated according to the EPF wage slab of each eligible additional employee.

For employees with EPF wages below Rs. 10,000, the incentive is calculated at 10% of EPF wage. The employer incentive is subject to additional employment, threshold and contribution conditions. The eligible establishment must maintain the required increase in employment over its baseline.

• For eligible establishments, the employer incentive is available for two years.
• For establishments engaged in manufacturing, the incentive period extends to four years.
• The incentive is calculated for additional employment over and above the prescribed baseline.
• The threshold is at least two additional employees where the baseline is below 50, and at least five additional employees where the baseline is 50 or more.
• Eligible first-timers and re-joiners may be counted subject to the scheme conditions.

How to Apply for PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana?

The scheme is implemented through EPFO and the employers payroll and ECR compliance process. Employees should complete their UAN authentication and coordinate with their employer to ensure that the required employment and contribution records are correctly filed.

1. Join an establishment covered under the EPF and MP Act, 1952, within the scheme registration period.
2. Generate your UAN through the prescribed process and complete Face Authentication Technology using the UMANG App.
3. Ensure that your Aadhaar details and bank account information are correctly linked for eligible DBT payments.
4. Ask your employer to file the monthly ECR and deposit the applicable EPF contributions.
5. Complete six continuous completed months of eligible employment for the first instalment.
6. Complete twelve months of eligible employment and the prescribed Financial Literacy Programme for the second instalment.
7. Check official EPFO and PM-VBRY portal updates for payment and eligibility information.

How to Generate and Authenticate UAN Through UMANG?

1. Install or open the UMANG mobile application.
2. Open the EPFO services section.
3. Choose the UAN allotment or activation service available in the app.
4. Complete the required Aadhaar details and Face Authentication process.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
6. Keep your UAN details secure and share them only through authorised employer or EPFO channels.

How Will the Incentive Be Paid?

• Employee incentives are paid through Direct Benefit Transfer using the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System to an Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
• Employer incentives are paid to the establishment’s PAN-linked bank account.
• Payment is subject to fulfilment of the eligibility conditions and filing of the required paid ECR.
• The scheme guidelines provide for disbursement within 45 days after the eligibility conditions are fulfilled and the required paid ECR is filed.
• If the employee’s bank account is not Aadhaar-seeded, payment may remain suspended until the required seeding is completed.

Important Dates

Official Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes. Eligibility, incentive calculation, payment and registration are governed by the official PM-VBRY guidelines and EPFO records. Candidates and employers should verify the latest instructions on the official government portals.