Employment Linked Incentive Scheme 2026: Benefits, Eligibility and How to Apply Online

Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, now officially known as Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY), is accepting registrations for jobs created between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027. Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 1 July 2025 with a budget outlay of ₹99,446 crore to support formal employment across all sectors.

First-time employees can get up to ₹15,000 as one month's EPF wage, while employers receive up to ₹3,000 per month for each additional hire. The scheme targets more than 3.5 crore jobs in two years, with around 1.92 crore first-time employees covered under Part A.

How to Apply Online for Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

There is no separate application form for this scheme. Eligible employees are identified automatically from EPFO records once they join an EPFO-registered establishment and their employer files monthly returns. Employees just need to activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) and link it with Aadhaar and bank account.

STEP 1 - Join an establishment registered with EPFO between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027 and make sure the employer generates your UAN.

STEP 2 - Activate the UAN using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) on the UMANG app. This step is required for the Part A incentive.

STEP 3 - Link Aadhaar with your bank account and make sure the account is Aadhaar-seeded so the incentive can be paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

STEP 4 - Complete the free Financial Literacy Course on the EPFO member portal before 12 months of service to get the second installment.

STEP 5 - Employers need to register once on the official PMVBRY portal at pmvbry.epfindia.gov.in using their EPFO credentials and provide PAN, GSTN and PAN-linked bank account details.

For the complete login and registration process, check this guide: PMVBRY Portal Login & Registration Process

What is Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

Main purpose of Employment Linked Incentive Scheme is to give financial support to companies and new employees, encouraging formal employment. The government renamed the scheme Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana and it is being implemented by Ministry of Labour and Employment through EPFO.

The scheme has two parts. Part A supports first-time employees with a one-time incentive, while Part B supports employers who create additional jobs. Benefits apply to jobs created from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2027.

Also read: PMFBY List

Quick Overview

Part A: Incentives for Newly Enrolled EPFO Employees

Under Part A, employees who join the formal workforce for the first time and enroll with EPFO can get a one-month EPF salary incentive of up to ₹15,000, paid in two installments. To qualify, employees must earn up to ₹1 lakh per month and must not have been an EPFO member before 1 August 2025.

First installment is paid after six months of continuous employment and the second after twelve months, once the Financial Literacy Course is completed. A part of the incentive is kept in a savings instrument for a fixed period to encourage saving, which can be withdrawn later.

Financial Benefits for Employees

Newly joined EPFO employees get up to one month's EPF salary (maximum ₹15,000), paid in two parts for staying on the job. First installment is up to ₹7,500 after six months, and the second installment is paid after twelve months of service plus completion of the financial literacy course.

Part B: Incentives for Employers in Manufacturing and Other Industries

Part B focuses on creating more jobs, especially in manufacturing. Employers with EPFO registration get incentives for every new employee earning up to ₹1 lakh, after the employee has worked at least six months. For industrial sectors, these incentives continue into the third and fourth years.

Employers must hire at least two new workers (or five for larger companies with 50 or more employees) and keep them employed for six months to qualify.

Financial Benefits for Employers

For every additional employee kept for at least six months, employers get up to ₹3,000 monthly for two years (extended to four years for manufacturing sectors).

Eligibility Criteria for Employment Linked Incentive Scheme

Both employees and employers need to meet a few conditions to get the benefit under this scheme. Here are the main points.

• Permanent resident of India with an Aadhaar-linked bank account
• Must be working for an EPFO-registered company
• First-time employees who were not EPFO members before 1 August 2025 are eligible under Part A
• Monthly pay should be less than ₹1 lakh, and enrollment with EPFO is required
• Employers must hire at least 2 additional employees (baseline below 50) or 5 additional employees (baseline 50 or above)

Also read: Apaar ID Card Registration

Documents Needed

Employees do not need to submit any separate application form, but the following documents should be ready and linked with EPFO records.

• Aadhaar card linked with UAN and bank account
• PAN card
• Email ID and mobile number
• Address proof
• Bank account details (Aadhaar-seeded for DBT)

Main Features of ELI Scheme

Employment Linked Incentive Scheme has a few main features that make it different from earlier employment schemes.

• Started to support formal job creation by giving financial help to companies and new employees
• Union Budget 2024-25 announced the ELI schemes to boost formal employment, now running under the name PMVBRY
• New employees can get up to ₹15,000 or a full month's salary under Part A
• Employers get incentives for two years, and manufacturing sectors for up to four years
• Payments are made through DBT using Aadhaar Bridge Payment System (ABPS)

Payment Method under ELI Scheme

For Part A, payments to eligible new employees are made through the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System (ABPS) using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

For Part B, incentives are directly transferred to employers' PAN-linked accounts.

Official Guidelines and Documents

The government has published the full scheme guidelines and a standard operating procedure for calculating incentives. Employers and employees can download these from the official PMVBRY website.

Download the PMVBRY scheme guidelines PDF and the SOP for calculating incentives from the official portal.

Contact / Helpline

Employees Provident Fund Organization, (Ministry of Labour & Employment)

Plate A Ground Floor, Office Block-II, East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi-110023

Help desk / toll free: 14480 or 1800-180-1850

FAQ's

What is Employment Linked Incentive Scheme (ELI)?

Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme is a central government scheme announced in Budget 2024-25 and now renamed Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). It boosts formal employment by supporting companies and new workers through financial incentives.

What are the main benefits of this scheme?

This scheme helps both new employees and employers with financial support. New workers receive up to ₹15,000 as incentive and employers get up to ₹3,000 per month for hiring additional formal staff.

Who is eligible to apply for ELI Scheme?

Anyone hired recently in India, earning less than ₹1 lakh per month, and registered with EPFO for the first time can get the benefit along with their employer. Jobs created between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2027 qualify.

How do I apply for the scheme?

There is no separate application form. You can check your eligibility and status on the official PMVBRY portal at pmvbry.epfindia.gov.in after activating your UAN and linking Aadhaar with your bank account.

Are the incentives available for all sectors and company sizes?

Yes, the scheme is open to recently hired employees across all sectors, but employers must meet the minimum hiring criteria of 2 additional employees (or 5 for larger establishments).

What is the duration for getting scheme benefits?

Benefits are available for up to two years for most sectors, and up to four years for manufacturing companies, depending on meeting eligibility requirements.