India is set to take a bold step toward employment-led growth and inclusive economic development with the official rollout of the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) on 1st August 2025. Approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this ambitious scheme replaces the earlier Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, aligning it with the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
What is PM-VBRY?
The PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is a transformative employment-linked incentive scheme designed to boost job creation across sectors—especially in manufacturing—and incentivize employers to recruit and retain new employees.
With a financial outlay of ₹99,446 crore, the scheme aims to create over 3.5 crore new jobs over a two-year period. Notably, 1.92 crore of these will be first-time entrants into the workforce, demonstrating the government’s push to empower India’s youth and underserved populations.
Scheme Period
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- Start Date: 1st August 2025
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- End Date: 31st July 2027
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- The benefits apply to jobs created during this two-year window.
Structure of PM-VBRY
The scheme is divided into two key components:
Part A – Incentives to First-Time Employees
This part is tailored for new employees registering with EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) for the first time.
Key Highlights:
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- Eligibility: Employees with a monthly salary up to ₹1 lakh.
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- Incentive:
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- Equivalent of one month’s EPF wage (up to ₹15,000) in two installments.
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- Incentive:
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- Installment Schedule:
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- 1st installment after 6 months of continuous service.
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- 2nd installment after 12 months, plus completion of a financial literacy program.
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- Installment Schedule:
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- Savings Feature: Part of the benefit will be deposited in a savings instrument or fixed account, promoting long-term financial discipline.
Part B – Support for Employers
Employers, especially in the manufacturing sector, are encouraged to hire new employees with government-backed financial support.
Employer Eligibility:
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- Must be registered with EPFO.
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- Required to hire:
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- At least 2 new employees (if current strength is less than 50).
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- At least 5 new employees (if current strength is 50 or more).
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- Required to hire:
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- Employment must be sustained for at least 6 months.
Incentive Structure (Monthly Benefit Per New Employee):
| EPF Wage Slab | Incentive |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹10,000 | Up to ₹1,000 |
| ₹10,001 – ₹20,000 | ₹2,000 |
| ₹20,001 – ₹1,00,000 | ₹3,000 |
Note: Incentives are proportional for employees earning less than ₹10,000.
Duration of Incentives:
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- For general sectors: Up to 2 years.
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- For manufacturing sector: Extended support for up to 4 years.
Mandatory UAN Face Authentication for PM-VBRY
As part of the Government of India’s initiative to streamline employment benefits and ensure digital compliance, all new employees registered under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) must now complete UAN Face Authentication via the UMANG App.
This is a mandatory requirement under PM-VBRY (formerly ELI Scheme), which aims to promote formal employment and ensure transparency in the verification of beneficiaries.
Why Face Authentication Is Important
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- It ensures each new EPF member is uniquely verified, securely linking Aadhaar credentials to their UAN (Universal Account Number).
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- This verification is compulsory for availing any benefits under PM-VBRY for both employees and employers.
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- Failure to complete this process may result in disqualification from the scheme.
Steps to Complete UAN Face Authentication
📱 User Manual for UAN Services on UMANG App
For: EPFO Members | Platform: UMANG App (Android & iOS)
Common Requirements (Before You Begin)
✅ Aadhaar number
✅ Aadhaar-linked mobile number for OTP
✅ Aadhaar Face RD App (for face authentication – download when prompted)
Service 1: UAN Allotment and Activation
For users without a UAN
Step-by-Step Guide
1️⃣ Open UMANG → Tap “UAN Allotment and Activation”
2️⃣ Enter:
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- Aadhaar Number
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- Mobile Number
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- Tick consent checkbox
3️⃣ Tap “Send OTP”
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- Enter OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile
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- Install Aadhaar Face RD App if prompted
4️⃣ System checks:
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- ✅ Aadhaar already linked to UAN → Notified
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- ❌ Not linked → Proceed to Face Authentication
5️⃣ Tap “Face Authentication”
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- Give consent
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- Perform face scan
6️⃣ New UAN is generated
📩 UAN sent via SMS to your registered mobile
Possible Errors & Fixes
| Issue | Action |
|---|---|
| Invalid Aadhaar/Mobile | Recheck and re-enter |
| OTP Failure | Retry OTP |
| Face Auth Failure | Retry or contact support |
| UAN Already Exists | Redirected to home |
Service 2: UAN Activation
For users who already have a UAN, but it’s not yet activated
Step-by-Step Guide
1️⃣ Open UMANG → Tap “UAN Activation”
2️⃣ Enter:
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- UAN
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- Aadhaar Number
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- Mobile Number
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- Tick consent checkbox
3️⃣ Tap “Send OTP”
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- Enter OTP
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- Install Aadhaar Face RD App if needed
4️⃣ Tap “Face Authentication”
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- Give consent
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- Perform face scan
5️⃣ System verifies UAN-Aadhaar link
📩 UAN is activated
📩 Temporary password + details sent via SMS
Possible Errors & Fixes
| Issue | Action |
|---|---|
| Invalid UAN/Aadhaar | Re-enter info |
| OTP Failure | Retry OTP |
| Face Auth Failure | Retry / contact support |
| UAN-Aadhaar Mismatch | Process halted |
Service 3: Face Authentication for Already Activated UANs
For biometric validation & updating EPFO records
Step-by-Step Guide
1️⃣ Open UMANG → Tap “Face Authentication of Already Activated UANs”
2️⃣ Tick consent checkbox
3️⃣ Tap “Face Authentication”
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- Install Aadhaar Face RD App if required
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- Perform face scan
4️⃣ System auto-fetches:
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- UAN
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- Aadhaar
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- Mobile number
5️⃣ Records updated in EPFO database ✅
Possible Errors & Fixes
| Issue | Action |
|---|---|
| Invalid UAN/Aadhaar | Recheck and re-enter |
| Face Auth Failure | Retry or contact support |
| EPFO Validation Failure | Process stops |
🕒 Do It Without Delay
All employers and HR teams are strongly advised to ensure that new employees complete UAN face authentication immediately after onboarding. Non-compliance may lead to loss of incentives under both Part A and Part B of the scheme.
💰 Incentive Disbursement Mechanism
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- Employees (Part A): Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using Aadhaar Bridge Payment System (ABPS).
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- Employers (Part B): Direct credit into PAN-linked bank accounts.
🔧 Strategic Impact of PM-VBRY
This scheme is not just an employment booster—it is a strategic economic catalyst. By promoting formal employment, enhancing financial literacy, enforcing digital KYC, and supporting sector-wise job creation, PM-VBRY strengthens the bridge between workforce inclusion and economic growth.
It aligns perfectly with flagship missions like Make in India, Digital India, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, empowering businesses and individuals alike.
📌 Final Thoughts
With the launch of PM-VBRY, India reinforces its commitment to employment generation, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth. The mandatory UAN face authentication adds a much-needed layer of identity verification, ensuring transparency and integrity in scheme implementation.
As we progress toward the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, initiatives like this will pave the way for a stronger, skilled, and secure workforce.