How first-time employees can claim up to ₹15,000 under PM-VBRY

First-time employees joining the formal workforce can receive financial assistance of up to ₹15,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY). To receive the second instalment, eligible workers must complete a financial literacy course, in addition to meeting the scheme’s employment conditions.

Launched in August 2025, the scheme aims to encourage formal employment and create jobs. It will cover eligible employment between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027, with a budget allocation of ₹99,446 crore.

Employees earning a monthly salary of up to ₹1 lakh may qualify for the incentive. Payments are transferred directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

How much can employees receive under PM-VBRY?

The scheme has two parts: one offers incentives to first-time employees entering formal employment, while the other supports employers who expand their workforce.

Under Part A, eligible employees can receive up to ₹15,000 in two instalments of up to ₹7,500 each. The amount depends on the employee’s EPF wage for one completed month, subject to the overall limit.

The first instalment becomes payable after six months of employment. The second is due after 12 months of continuous service, provided the employee has also completed the prescribed financial literacy course.

Part of the incentive is placed in a designated savings instrument to encourage financial security. Employees can access this amount at a later stage.

Under Part B, employers that add eligible workers and retain them for at least six months can receive financial support of up to ₹3,000 per month for each qualifying employee. The incentive is available for two years in general and four years for eligible manufacturing-sector employers.

Who is eligible for the ₹15,000 benefit?

Employees must meet the following conditions to qualify for the incentive:

Joining date: They must join an establishment between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027.

First-time EPF membership: They must not have been an EPF-contributing member through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) or an exempted trust before August 1, 2025.

First contribution: Their first EPF contribution through EPFO or an exempted trust must relate to the August 2025 wage month or a later month.

Salary limit: Their monthly salary must not exceed ₹1 lakh.

Employment period: They must complete six months of service with the same establishment to qualify for the first instalment.

Employees must also activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) and complete Aadhaar-based face authentication through the designated app. Their bank accounts must be enabled to receive DBT payments.

How to get the second instalment of ₹7,500

To receive the second payment, employees must complete 12 months of continuous employment and finish the prescribed Financial Literacy Course (FLC).

The course can be accessed through the EPFO website. Employees can follow these steps:

• Visit the EPFO website and select ‘Employee Login’.
• Log in using their UAN and password.
• Enter the OTP sent to their Aadhaar-registered mobile number and submit it.
• Find the ‘PMVBRY’ section on the homepage.
• Select ‘Financial Literacy Course’ from the available options.
• Complete all five modules and their question-and-answer assessments. Each module unlocks the next.
• Finish the course and obtain the FLC Course Completion Certificate.

After completing the course and meeting the 12-month continuous-service requirement, eligible employees can receive the second instalment of up to ₹7,500 in their linked bank accounts through DBT.

The total benefit under Part A is capped at ₹15,000, and the actual amount depends on the employee’s EPF wage for one completed month.