Government Job Schemes 2026: The Central Government is running several employment initiatives to help young people find jobs and become financially independent. Two important programmes are the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 2.0 (DDU-GKY 2.0).
Both schemes aim to improve employment opportunities for young people, but their benefits are different. PM-VBRY offers financial incentives to eligible first-time employees and employers, while DDU-GKY 2.0 provides free skill development training to rural youth to improve their employment prospects.
1. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 2.0: Free Training for Rural Youth
DDU-GKY 2.0 is a skill development programme designed to help young people from economically weaker rural families gain employment-oriented skills.
Under this initiative, eligible candidates receive free training based on their interests and career requirements. The guidelines for the updated scheme were issued in 2025.
Who Can Apply for DDU-GKY 2.0?
Rural youth between 15 and 35 years of age can benefit from this programme.
The scheme also provides specific reservations to encourage participation from different sections of society. These include:
- 50% reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- 33% reservation for women.
- 5% reservation for persons with disabilities.
Selected candidates receive free training lasting between three and 12 months, with a minimum training duration of 576 hours. Along with job-related skills, participants also receive additional training, including 180 hours of communication skills development.
The objective is to prepare rural candidates for employment through practical and professional training.
2. PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Get an Incentive of ₹15,000
The PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana is a Central Government employment initiative implemented through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Its main objective is to encourage companies to recruit more employees while providing financial support to young people entering formal employment for the first time.
Budget, Duration and Employment Target
The scheme will operate from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2027. The government has allocated a total budget of ₹99,446 crore.
Under the programme, the target is to facilitate more than 3.5 crore jobs over two years. Around 1.92 crore young people are expected to benefit by securing their first jobs.
How Will Employees Receive ₹15,000?
Eligible first-time employees joining organisations registered with EPFO can receive a financial incentive of up to ₹15,000.
The benefit applies to eligible jobs offering a monthly salary of up to ₹1 lakh.
The incentive will be released in two instalments:
- First instalment: After completing six consecutive months of employment.
- Second instalment: After completing 12 months of employment.
The scheme also provides incentives to employers for creating additional employment opportunities.
3. How to Apply for These Government Job Schemes?
Candidates and employers interested in the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana can access registration and scheme-related information through the official PM-VBRY portal and the UMANG application.
For DDU-GKY 2.0, eligible rural candidates can seek information about training opportunities and enrolment through the programme’s authorised channels.
Both initiatives aim to improve employment prospects, strengthen skill development and help more young Indians participate in the formal workforce.
Disclaimer
This article is prepared using the information provided in the source material. Eligibility conditions, financial benefits, reservation provisions and application procedures are subject to the respective scheme guidelines. Applicants should check official government portals and notifications before applying.