3-Aug-2022: Scholarship for EWS Students

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing an umbrella scheme namely PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM –YASASVI) under which Post-Matric Scholarship is provided to the Economically Backward Category students. Also, from this year, the Department is implementing following sub-schemes under PM YASASVI for quality education of Economically Backward Category students:

1. Top Class School for OBC, EBC and DNT students: This Scheme will cover OBC/EBC/DNT students for pursuing studies from Class IX to XIIth in top repute school shortlisted by the Central Government. The grants will be provided for tuition fee etc. as required by the school, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 75,000/- per annum per student of class 9 and 10 and Rs. 1,25,000/- per annum per student of class 11 and 12. The students will be selected based on merits in Computer based test namely “ YASASVI ENTRANCE TEST (YET)” to be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). State-wise slots have been allocated and target beneficiaries for 2022-23 have been kept 15,000.
2. Top Class College for OBC, EBC and DNT students: This scheme will cover OBC/EBC/DNT students for pursuing studies beyond class XIIth. The Scheme will operate in all the institutions notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for every financial year. All the IIMs / IITs/ IIITs / AIIMSs/ NITs/NIFTs/ NIDs/ Indian Institutes of Hotel Management, National Law Universities and other Central Government Institutions will be eligible to be included in the Scheme. The students, who secured admission in the notified institutions, will be awarded scholarship to meet the requirements for full tuition fee and non-refundable charges up to a ceiling of Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum along with living expenses Rs.3000/-per month per student, books and stationery @ Rs. 5000/- per annum per student and one time assistance of Rs 45,000 for latest computer/laptop. Around 259 institutions have been shortlisted among which 15,000 slots will be distributed for year 2022-23.

9-Feb-2022: Income limit for OBC/EWS

The annual income limit of the family from all sources for the EWS group of General category for availing the benefit of reservation is fixed at Rs.8,00,000/-.

The annual parental income limit for the sections of the Other Backward Classes, who do not fall with the other conditions prescribed for determination of Creamy Layer, is Rs. 8 lakh.

Articles 15(5) and Articles 16(5) enable the State to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and provide reservation to them in admissions to educational institutions and recruitment to Government jobs while Articles 15(6) and 16(6) enable the State to make similar special provisions for the advancement of economically weaker sections of citizens. However, the Constitution does not give the mandate to prescribe different yardsticks for economic parity of the two communities.

The annual income limit for creamy layer for the OBCs was last revised in the year 2017 and has remained unchanged since then.

15-Dec-2021: Criteria for EWS Reservation

The EWS reservation of ten percent in employment and admission in educational institutions has been implemented as per The Constitution (one hundred and three) Amendment Act 2019. This has been challenged in Supreme Court and the matter is under consideration of Supreme Court.

The annual family income limit of Rs.8 lakh to identify EWS beneficiaries was fixed after a detailed study.

14-Dec-2021: Income Limit Fixed For EWS

Persons who are not covered under the existing scheme of reservations for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and whose family has gross annual income below Rs.8.00 lakh are to be identified as EWSs for the benefit of reservation.

The annual family income. The same income limit has been adopted by the Government for determination of EWS beneficiaries.

The prescribed condition for determination of OBC candidates in Creamy layer and for determination of EWS candidates are entirely different except that in both cases the income limit of Rs.8.00 lakh per annum is prescribed.

3-Aug-2021: EWS reservation

Department of Personnel & Training who is handling the work of recruitment in Government service have informed that they are not having the information regarding the number of persons who have availed the benefits of EWS reservation in appointment to Government service till date.

By virtue of Entry 41 of State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the respective States are required to implement the provisions relating to State Public Services. As per available information the following States have implemented ten per cent reservation to EWS:- (1) Uttarakhand (2) Gujarat (3) Karnataka (4) Jharkhand (5) Maharashtra (6) Mizoram (7) Delhi (8) J&K (9) Goa (10)Assam (11) Telangana and (12) Andhra Pradesh.

A total of 2,14,766 additional seats were approved to be created to in the central educational institutions; and an expenditure of Rs. 4,315.15 Cr was approved to be incurred to improve the infrastructure in the higher educational institutions.

6-Jun-2019: Haryana government withdraws EBPG quota

The Haryana government has withdrawn its quotas of posts kept reserved under the Economically Backward Persons in General Category (EBPG) and Backward Class (Block-C) in government jobs and state-run educational institutions. The government has also asked all the departments of the state government to release reserved posts from the quota into the General/ unreserved category.

Besides EBPG, the decision will have impact on six castes – Jats, Jat Sikhs, Muslim Jats, Tyagis, Rors and Bishnois – that were included in backward class (Block-C) category.

EBPG quota was withdrawn in view of reservation provided under the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) by the central government. Since Economically Weaker Section reservation has come into effect, there is no requirement to continue with reservation of EBPG and such reservation is hereby withdrawn, the state government’s June 5 order stated.

The government has asked all the departments that in case they had withheld EBPG posts, such posts may be released and requisition for such posts may be sent to the appropriate recruitment authority, treating such withheld posts to be under the General/ Unreserved category.

In its order dated July 15, 2014, the state government had prescribed reservation for EPBG category at 5 per cent for Group A and B posts; and 10 per cent for Group C & D posts. The matter was reconsidered by the government in the light of reservation for Economically Weaker Sections that was prescribed on February 25, 2019. Since the posts that were kept reserved for EBPG could not be merged/ converted to general/ unreserved category, the government had to withdraw its July 15 order, which was done on June 5. Similarly, under the Backward Class (C) category, there was 6 per cent quota in Group-A and B posts and 10 per cent quota in Group-C and D posts.

Jats and five other castes were notified as Backward Class caste (Block-C) through The Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions Act), 2016. However, it was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court had imposed a stay on it. This, Jats and other five castes could not avail quota benefit in government jobs and admissions in educational institutions. Now, with the government withdrawing this notification, the Jats and other castes shall atleast avail benefit under the Central government’s 10 per cent EWS quota, if they fulfill the eligibility criteria.

21-Jul-2022: Beneficiaries under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojna

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched with effect from 1st October, 2020 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. The salient features of the scheme are summarized below:

• An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 is eligible for the benefit. The employees who lost their job during Covid-19 pandemic and did not join in any EPF covered establishment upto 30.09.2020 are also eligible for the benefit.
• Government of India for a period of two years, is crediting both the employee’ share (12% of wages) and employer’s share (12% of wages) of contribution payable or only the employee’s share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments.
• The scheme commenced from 1st October 2020 and registration was open for eligible employers and new employees upto 31st March, 2022.

The scheme was intended to benefit a total of 71.80 lakh members. Total registration under the scheme is 75.11 lakh. As on 13.07.2022, benefits have been provided to 59.54 lakh beneficiaries through 1.50 lakh establishments in the country.

To increase the coverage of the scheme, the last date of registration was increased for nine months i.e. 30.06.2021 to 31.03.2022.

7-Apr-2022: Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched with effect from 1st October, 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. Under the scheme, Government of India for a period of two years is crediting both the employee’s share (12% of wages) and employer’s share (12% of wages) of contribution payable or only the employee’s share, depending on employment strength of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) registered establishments. This scheme intends to reduce the financial burden of the employers and encourages them to hire more workers. The terminal date for registration of beneficiaries was extended from 30.06.2021 to 31.03.2022.

 As on 30.03.2022, a total of 54.75 lakh employees have benefitted under the scheme. This includes 48.76 lakh new-joiners and 5.98 lakh employees who had lost their jobs during the pandemic and have rejoined as EPF members.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government. Government is providing fiscal stimulus of more than Rs. Twenty Seven lakh crore as part of the Aatmanirbhar financial Package. Aatmanirbhar Bharat package comprises of various long term schemes/ programmes/ policies for making the country self-reliant and to create employment opportunities.

Further, to enhance employment/ entrepreneurship opportunities, including informal sector workers, Government is providing loans through various schemes like Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) to provide working capital loan to Street Vendors, vending in urban areas, to resume their businesses, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) under which collateral free loans upto Rs. 10 lakh are extended to micro/small business enterprises and to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities, etc. 

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Standup India, Digital India, Smart City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure Development and Industrial Corridors are also oriented towards generating employment opportunities.

30-Jun-2021: Cabinet approves extension of last date of Registration under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) from 30th June 2021 to 31st March 2022

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for extending the terminal date for registration of beneficiaries for availing the benefit under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) for another nine months i.e. from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022. Consequent upon this extension, it is expected that 71.8 lakh employment will be generated in the formal sector as against the earlier projection of 58.5 lakh. As on 18.06.2021, benefit amounting to Rs.902 crore has been given to 21.42 Lakh beneficiaries through 79,577 establishments under ABRY.

Estimated expenditure of the scheme including the expenditure for the proposed extended period of registration upto 31.03.2020 will be Rs.22,098 crore.

This scheme is being implemented through Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) to reduce financial burden of the employers of various sectors/industries and to encourage them to hire more workers.

Under ABRY, establishments registered with EPFO and their new employees drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15,000/- are being benefited if the establishment recruits new employees or those who lost their job between 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020.

Under ABRY, Government of India is crediting for a period of two years both the employees' and employers share' (24% of wages) or only the employees' share (12% of wages), depending on the strength of EPFO registered establishments. Detailed scheme guidelines can be seen on the website of Ministry of Labour & Employment and EPFO.

ABRY was announced as one of the measures under Aatmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package to boost the economy and increase employment generation in formal sector during post Covid recovery phase. This scheme will minimize the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the country's economy and will ameliorate the hardship faced by low paid workers, provide incentive to employers for restarting and expanding business activities.

15-Mar-2021: Contributions of Employee and Employer

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during COVID-19 pandemic. Under the scheme;

• An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit.
• Any EPF member possessing Universal Account Number (UAN) drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who made exit from employment during Covid pandemic from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 and did not join employment in any EPF covered establishment up to 30.09.2020 is also eligible to avail benefit.

This scheme being implemented through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), reduces the financial burden of the employers and will encourage them to hire more workers. Under ABRY, Government of India is crediting for a period of two years,    both the employees’ share (12% of wages) and employers’ share (12% of wages) of contribution payable or only the employees’ share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments. The scheme has commenced from 1st October 2020 and shall remain open for registration of eligible employers and new employees upto 30th June 2021. Government will pay the subsidy for two years from the date of registration.

8-Feb-2021: Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched to incentivize employers for creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during COVID-19 pandemic. Under the scheme;

• An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1st October 2020 is eligible for the benefit.
• Any EPF member possessing Universal Account Number (UAN) drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who made exit from employment during Covid pandemic from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 and did not join employment in any EPF covered establishment up to 30.09.2020 is also eligible to avail benefit.

This scheme being implemented through the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), reduces the financial burden of the employers of various sectors/industries including MSME and will encourages them to hire more workers. Under ABRY, the Government of India is bearing both the employees’ share (12% of wages) and employers’ share (12% of wages) of contribution payable or only the employees’ share, depending on employment strength of the EPFO registered establishments. The scheme has commenced from 1st October 2020 and shall remain open for registration of eligible employers and new employees upto 30th June 2021. Government will pay the subsidy for two years from the date of registration.

The outlay approved by the Government for the total period of scheme implementation i.e. from 2020 to 2023 is Rs. 22810 Crore.

9-Dec-2020: Cabinet approves Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) to boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the Covid recovery phase under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0.

Cabinet has approved an expenditure of Rs. 1,584 crore for the current financial year and Rs.22,810 crore for the entire Scheme period i.e. 2020-2023.

The salient features of the Scheme are as under:

1. Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and upto 30th June, 2021
2. Government of India will pay both 12% employees' contribution and 12% employers' contribution i.e.  24% of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in establishments employing upto 1000 employees for two years,
3. Government of India will pay only employees' share of EPF contribution i.e. 12% of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1000 employee for two years.
4. An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1stOctober 2020 will be eligible for the benefit,
5. Any EPF member possessing Universal Account Number (UAN) drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who made exit from employment during Covid pandemic from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 and did not join employment in any EPF covered establishment up to 30.09.2020 will also be eligible to avail benefit,
6. EPFO will credit the contribution in Aadhaar seeded account of members in electronic manner,
7. EPFO shall develop a software for the scheme and also develop a procedure which is transparent and accountable at their end.
8. EPFO shall work out modality to ensure that there is no overlapping of benefits provided under ABRY with any other scheme implemented by EPFO.