August 6, 2025 —
The Indian government has created over 1.1 million jobs for the youth in the last 16 months, Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. The announcement came as part of a broader update on employment generation efforts across the country, with the Minister unveiling a new flagship initiative — Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) — aimed at creating over 40 million jobs in the next five years.
The government has allocated ₹2 lakh crore to the PM-VBRY scheme, which will focus on large-scale job creation across high-growth sectors such as manufacturing, services, logistics, rural industries, and digital economy. According to Mandaviya, the scheme will not only generate employment but also enhance skill development, promote entrepreneurship, and foster formal workforce participation, particularly among youth and women.
“In just 16 months, we have created over 11 lakh youth jobs across various sectors. Under the PM-VBRY, we aim to take this momentum forward and generate 4 crore more jobs by 2030,” said Mandaviya during his address.
The announcement comes at a time when job creation has emerged as a key economic concern. With a growing youth population and the aftershocks of the pandemic still lingering in some sectors, the focus on targeted employment schemes has gained political and economic significance.
Mandaviya highlighted that a substantial number of these jobs were created through initiatives supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), rural employment programs, and central government-backed skill training missions. The government has also partnered with private industry players to accelerate job placement for certified workers trained through national skilling programs.
Under PM-VBRY, the government aims to provide incentives to employers for hiring new workers, especially in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, green energy, electronics, and digital services. The scheme also promises greater support for gig and platform workers, addressing concerns about informal sector vulnerabilities.
Experts have welcomed the move, calling it a much-needed intervention to address youth unemployment. However, they have also stressed the importance of transparency in data, efficient fund allocation, and the quality of jobs being created under such large-scale employment programs.
The government plans to roll out the first phase of the PM-VBRY scheme by the end of this fiscal year. States and union territories will be provided with dedicated targets and support systems to ensure uniform implementation.
With the economy projected to grow steadily over the next few years, the success of the PM-VBRY scheme could play a crucial role in realizing India’s demographic dividend. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is expected to release periodic updates on the scheme’s progress, including state-wise job creation metrics and budget utilization reports.
