ARTICLE
31 December 2025

Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

AC
Aurtus Consulting LLP

Contributor

Aurtus is a full-service boutique firm providing well-researched tax, transaction and regulatory services to clients in India as well as globally. At Aurtus, we strive to live up to our name, which is derived from ’Aurum’ - signifying the gold standard of services and ‘Ortus’ – implying a sunrise of fresh/innovative ideas and thought leadership. We help our clients navigate the complex world of tax and regulatory laws while providing them with thoroughly researched, practical and value-driven solutions. Our solutions and the holistic implementation support, cover not only all the relevant tax and regulatory aspects but also the contemporary trends and commercial realities. Our clients include reputed Indian corporations, MNCs, family offices, HNIs, start-ups, venture capital funds, private equity investors, etc.
The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana is a government initiative aimed at promoting employment generation and workforce formalisation in India. By providing targeted incentives to both employers and employees...
India Employment and HR
Vishal Gada’s articles from Aurtus Consulting LLP are most popular:
  • within Employment and HR topic(s)
  • in United States
Aurtus Consulting LLP are most popular:
  • within Employment and HR, Government, Public Sector and Energy and Natural Resources topic(s)

Background

The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana is a government initiative aimed at promoting employment generation and workforce formalisation in India. By providing targeted incentives to both employers and employees, the scheme seeks to encourage the creation of sustained additional employment opportunities and enhance overall employability.

The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

The scheme consists of two parts:

  • Part A focuses on the benefits to First-time Employees joining EPF on or after 1 August 2025, with gross wages up to INR 1,00,000 per month at the time of joining.
  • Part B focuses on the benefits to Establishments or Employers hiring additional employees who are either first timers or re-joinees, subject to fulfilling the threshold criteria with gross wages up to INR 1,00,000 per month.

Under Part A, the scheme assists first-time employees in their learning by covering upskilling costs and promoting financial literacy to enhance their productivity and financial awareness.

Part B focuses on incentivising employment across all sectors, with special emphasis on the manufacturing sector, to build a more formal, dynamic, and youth-driven labour market.

Definitions

  • Aadhaar

    Refers to the Aadhaar Number as defined under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
  • Baseline

    For establishments registered with EPFO for more than 12 months before August 1, 2025, it is the average number of employees during the previous 12 months.

    For those registered for less than 12 months, before August 1, 2025, it is the average number of employees for all months up to July 31, 2025.

    For new establishments, the baseline is fixed at 20 employees.
  • Completed Wage Month

    It means a full calendar month for which ECR is duly filed with EPFO. It is used to determine the eligibility and calculation of incentive under the scheme.
    • If joining is on or before the 5th of the month, then same month is treated as the first wage month.
    • If after the 5th of the month, then next month is treated as the first wage month.
  • Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR)

    It means filing monthly return online with EPFO along with the specified amount of contributions. The employees for whom contributions are not received will not be considered for benefits under parts A & B, however, for the purpose of calculating the baseline, all employees shall be counted.
  • Employee

    A person covered under the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 ('EPF & MP Act, 1952'), and for whom the employer contributes to EPFO or an exempted trust.

    New Employee: Joined between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027.

    First Timer: Never contributed to EPFO before, joins during the scheme, and has UAN verified via Face Authentication on UMANG App.

    Re-joinee: Previously contributed, rejoins during the scheme period, with Aadhaarauthenticated UAN.

    Eligible Employee: Any new employee in respect of whom contribution is received in EPFO or Exempted Trust for at least 6 months for both the employee and the employer and whose gross wages at the time of joining the establishment is less than INR 1,00,000 per month, will be considered for incentive to Establishments under Part B of the scheme.

    Old Employee: Joined before August 1, 2025, and continues, no incentive is provided under the scheme to employer.
  • EPF Wage

    Wage on which EPF contributions are made under Section 6 of the EPF & MP Act. It is calculated as:

    (Total Contribution × 100) / 24, or (Total Contribution × 100) / 20, Note: The divisors 24 and 20 represent the combined percentage of employee and employer contributions, which may be 12% + 12% = 24% or 10% + 10% = 20%, respectively, depending on the category of establishment.

To view the full article click here

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

[View Source]

Mondaq uses cookies on this website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies as set out in our Privacy Policy.

Learn More