PM-VBRY: Financial literacy course must for new EPFO members to get ₹15,000 incentive—eligibility, how to claim it

First-time employees entering India’s formal workforce can receive a government incentive of up to ₹15,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY). However, completing the required period of employment is not sufficient to receive the full benefit. Eligible workers must also complete a prescribed financial literacy course to qualify for the second instalment.

The scheme aims to promote formal employment by encouraging workers to join the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) system. The incentive is paid directly to eligible employees, subject to specified eligibility criteria and payment conditions.

Who is eligible for ₹15,000 benefit?

The employee incentive falls under Part A of PM-VBRY. To qualify, an employee must meet several conditions.

First, the individual must not have been a contributing member of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), either through the EPFO or an exempted provident fund trust, before August 1, 2025.

The employee must join an eligible establishment between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027. The monthly gross salary must not exceed ₹1 lakh, and the employer must be registered with the EPFO or operate an exempted provident fund trust.

Applicants must also be Indian residents with Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to receive payments through direct benefit transfer.