The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) – the renamed Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme announced in Budget 2024-25 and approved with a Rs. 99,446 crore outlay – is the largest direct cash push for formal job creation India has run through the EPFO. It pays on both sides of the employment contract: a one-time incentive of up to Rs. 15,000 to every first-time EPF member, and up to Rs. 3,000 per month per additional hire to employers – for two years, doubled to four for manufacturing. The window covers jobs created between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027, targeting over 3.5 crore jobs. Here is the complete, practical guide.
Part A – the first-timer benefit (for employees)
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | A person who has never been an EPFO member (or of an exempted PF trust) before 1 August 2025, joining an EPFO-covered establishment during the scheme window |
| Wage limit | Gross wages below Rs. 1,00,000 per month at joining |
| Benefit | One month’s EPF wage, up to Rs. 15,000, paid in two instalments |
| Instalment 1 | After 6 months of continuous service |
| Instalment 2 | After 12 months of service plus completion of a financial-literacy programme |
| Savings component | A portion is parked in a savings instrument for a fixed period, withdrawable later – a built-in nudge to save |
| Payment mode | DBT to the employee’s Aadhaar-seeded bank account via the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System |
Part B – the employer incentive
Establishments registered with EPFO earn a monthly incentive for every additional employee hired (wage up to Rs. 1 lakh) and retained for at least six months, over and above their baseline headcount:
| EPF wage of the new hire | Employer incentive per month |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs. 10,000 | Up to Rs. 1,000 |
| Rs. 10,001 – 20,000 | Rs. 2,000 |
| Rs. 20,001 – 1,00,000 | Rs. 3,000 |
- Minimum additional hiring: 2 extra employees (establishments with fewer than 50 staff) or 5 extra (50 or more), sustained for at least 6 months.
- Duration: incentives run for 2 years; for manufacturing establishments, extended to the 3rd and 4th year as well.
- Payout: credited in tranches after every 6/12/18/24 months of sustained employment, directly to the establishment’s PAN-linked bank account.
- Hygiene conditions: EPFO registration with a valid LIN, up-to-date statutory filings and a clean compliance record.
How to register and claim
- Employers: register on the dedicated portal pmvbry.epfindia.gov.in (also reachable via pmvbry.labour.gov.in) with EPFO credentials; confirm baseline headcount; file ECRs on time – the incentive computation rides on your regular EPF returns.
- Employees: activate the UAN, complete face authentication on UMANG, seed Aadhaar to your bank account, and serve the qualifying months. The financial-literacy module unlocks the second instalment.
- Both: no separate cash application – eligibility flows from EPFO contribution data, which is exactly why clean ECR filing and a correct member profile matter (fix any errors via the online Joint Declaration process first).
Hiring or newly hired? Know your PF numbers
Model the EPF corpus on the new salary – employee 12%, employer split and the 8.25% rate built in.
Open EPF CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
I changed jobs in 2026 but had PF in my old job – do I get Part A?
No. Part A is strictly for first-time EPFO members – anyone who ever had a PF contribution before 1 August 2025 is outside Part A. Your employer may still earn Part B on you if you are an additional hire.
Can the employer claim Part B for replacing someone who quit?
No – the scheme pays only for employment above the baseline headcount, sustained at least six months. Replacement hiring that keeps headcount flat earns nothing.
Is the Part A money taxable?
The incentive is a government benefit credited via DBT; taxability follows general income-tax principles and any specific clarification issued. Factor it in while estimating the year’s income.
What if my employer delays my UAN or ECR filing?
Both Part A and Part B computations ride on EPFO contribution records. Insist on UAN activation and verify your passbook from month one – and complete the UMANG face authentication yourself.
Where do I check official updates?
The scheme portal pmvbry.epfindia.gov.in and EPFO press releases. Treat unofficial “registration agent” sites with caution – registration is free and through EPFO credentials only.