Around 81% of Indian employers are familiar with the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), with larger organizations representing 83% of this awareness, as per a recent report. However, only 5.4% of start-ups and micro-businesses, which could benefit significantly from hiring incentives of up to Rs 3,000 per employee per month, were aware of the scheme.
The PM-VBRY scheme offers a direct incentive of up to Rs 15,000, paid in two installments, to employees joining the formal workforce and newly registered with EPFO. Additionally, it provides an incentive of up to Rs 3,000 per month for each new employee hired and retained for at least six months.
Despite 56% of surveyed employers planning to expand their workforce in the second half of FY26, only 60.4% of them were aware of the scheme. Sectors like FMCG showed higher awareness at 72.2%, while service-oriented sectors like educational services lagged at 33.3%, indicating the necessity for targeted outreach efforts.
According to Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President at TeamLease Services, about 19% of employers are completely unaware of the scheme, leading to uneven engagement across sectors. Addressing these gaps could bring significant benefits, allowing organizations to enhance capabilities, boost retention, and build a resilient workforce aligned with policy goals.
