In a major push towards employment generation and economic reform, the Indian government on Monday, August 18, 2025, officially launched the portal for the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). This ambitious scheme, with a substantial outlay of ₹1 lakh crore, aims to create over 3.5 crore jobs across India within a two-year period, from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2027.
Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Mansukh L Mandaviya, stated that the PMVBRY is designed to incentivize job creation and support new employees. The scheme is divided into two parts: Part A offers a one-time incentive of up to ₹15,000 (equivalent to an average one-month wage) to first-time employees with gross wages up to ₹1 lakh, payable in two installments. Part B provides incentives to employers for generating additional employment, with a special focus on the manufacturing sector. Employers can receive incentives ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per new employee, depending on their salary.
Beyond employment, the Parliament saw significant legislative activity. The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, was passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, replacing the century-old Indian Ports Act of 1908. This new legislation aims to modernize maritime governance, enhance Centre-State coordination, strengthen environmental safeguards, and create an investor-friendly framework for port-led growth.
Furthermore, the government introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. This bill seeks to decriminalize 288 provisions across various laws, aiming to promote ease of living and improve the business climate by replacing imprisonment for minor, technical, or procedural defaults with monetary penalties or warnings.
In another development to bolster domestic industries, the 'Made in India' Label Scheme was introduced. This initiative, led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), proposes ₹995 crores for three years to create a strong and recognizable national brand for products manufactured or substantially assembled in India.
On the state level, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the 'Shramashree' scheme. This scheme will provide a monthly stipend of ₹5,000 for up to one year to migrant workers who return to the state after facing harassment elsewhere, along with access to other state government benefits like ration cards and healthcare.
These policy announcements align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader vision for "next-generation reforms" and a "100-day transformation agenda" aimed at accelerating India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, as articulated in his Independence Day speech.