Union Cabinet approves Employment Linked Incentive Scheme
While addressing a press conference, Union MInister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the approval of Employment Linked Incentive Scheme for ₹1.07 lakh crore.
Under the Scheme, while the first-time employees will get one month's wage (up to ₹15,000), the employers will be given incentives for a period to two years for generating additional employment, with extended benefits for another two years for the manufacturing sector.
The Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2024–25 to generate formal employment by offering financial support to both employers and first-time employees. To avail the benefits, employees must enrol in EPFO and meet Aadhaar-bank seeding requirements.
With an outlay of ₹99,446 Crore, the ELI Scheme aims to incentivize the creation of more than 3.5 Crore jobs in the country, over a period of 2 years. Out of these, 1.92 Crore beneficiaries will be first timers, entering the workforce. The benefits of the Scheme would be applicable to jobs created between August 1, 2025 and July, 31, 2027.
With ELI Scheme, the government intends to catalyse job creation in all sectors, particularly in manufacturing sector, besides incentivizing youth joining the workforce for the first time, Mr. Vaishnaw said.
Mr. Vaishnaw also said that Union Cabinet approved National Sports Policy 2025, Research Development and Innovation scheme, and four laning of Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram national highway.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Irregularities in solar pump project implemented by Anert, alleges Ramesh Chennithala
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress working committee (CWC) member Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday demanded a detailed investigation into the irregularities in the Rs 240-crore tender to make grid-connected agriculture pumps solar under PM-Kusum scheme. After releasing documents, including the sanction order from Union ministry, Chennithala said there was an increase of over Rs 100 crore in total project cost and a misappropriation of more than Rs 100 crore in obtaining a loan of Rs 175 crore from Nabard. Agency for new and renewable energy research and technology (Anert) was given the order by Union ministry of new and renewable energy in May 2022 to convert 9,348 agricultural pumps to solar. Meanwhile, electricity minister K Krishnankutty instructed additional chief secretary of energy department to investigate the allegations of irregularities and submit a report. He said no one responsible for any irregularities found in the investigation would be protected. Appropriate further actions will be taken after receiving the investigation report, he said. There were irregularities on many counts, Ramesh alleged. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "The Rs 240-crore tender was scrapped after technical and financial bids were opened, the lowest bidder was allowed to withdraw and there were irregularities in accepting the financial bid in the second tender. Work orders were given to companies that didn't mention amounts in bids, grading was not followed in converting solar pumps and pumps were set up at 146% more than the benchmark set by govt of India. State govt returned around 85% of the subsidy to Centre," he said. Chennithala said the irregularities began when Anert CEO, who is authorised to call tenders worth up to Rs 5 crore, invited a tender for Rs 240 crore. "It needs to be clarified how such a high-value tender was called without govt's written approval," he said. Irregularities occurred throughout the entire process, he alleged. "After a company submitted its tender, they were given the opportunity for revisions and were issued a work order," he said, adding that govt should explain how changes were allowed after opening the tender. "Most contracts were awarded at more than double the benchmark amount set by central govt for installing such pumps. There is a difference ranging from Rs 1-3 lakh in contracts for various solar projects from 2-10 kilowatts. This resulted in a difference of nearly Rs 100 crore in total project cost," he alleged. The approval and corruption involved in causing such a significant difference should be investigated, he added. "This misappropriation was carried out by taking a loan of Rs 175 crore from Nabard. Grading was implemented for companies to ensure error-free project execution. It is understood that contracts were awarded to companies that didn't qualify. Contracts were given to companies without grading at the same amount as the one quoted by the lowest bidder," he said. An investigation into all these irregularities should be ordered by removing Anert CEO, Chennithala said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bihar SIR: Aadhaar accepted in Patna, not in Seemanchal
Representative image PATNA: The special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has gained pace with 57% (4.5 crore) of the 7.89 crore enrolled voters submitting their enumeration forms by Wednesday. But the process seems to have thrown up an urban-rural divide, TOI found after speaking to officials and people across regions. While officials were seen taking forms on basis of Aadhaar cards in Patna, not many were willing to accept the card in Seemanchal and other parts of rural Bihar, where birth certificates or, in lieu, caste or land allotment documents were being insisted on. TOI hit the ground for a reality check and found that booth level officers (BLOs), Jeevika didis, shiksha mitras and Anganwadi sevikas distributing enumeration forms in villages and towns of Bihar at a rapid pace. In Patna and adjoining areas, voters said they have been asked to fill in and sign the forms and submit a copy of their voter ID cards, Aadhaar, or even ration cards, if they don't have any of the 11 documents required by the Election Commission. Don't worry, just provide your Aadhaar card,' Rahul Yadav , a ward councillor, was seen telling a group of worried women. Aadhaar and ration cards are not included in the list of 11 documents mandated by the EC, triggering widespread protests from the opposition India Bloc. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Park Crescent at Alembic City, Vadodara – Luxury Homes from ₹2.20 Cr* Onwards Alembic City West Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola But, in reality, some BLOs in urban areas like Patna say they have been asked to just get the enumeration forms filled in and signed by existing voters and upload them as the EC itself says the other needed documents can be submitted later. July 25 is the last date to submit forms. Ramashish, of Bikram area in Patna district, said the BLOs distributing the forms had initially asked them to submit the documents listed by the EC. 'Since very few people had any of the 11 listed documents, the villagers were reluctant. But now they have been asked to just fill the columns of mother, father, spouse names, Aadhaar card number and mobile number with signature. That may be the reason why the SIR exercise has gained pace in the last few days,' he said. Many voters enrolled in urban areas of East Champaran district are getting their names added to the voter lists of their respective villages where they have landed property, revealed BLOs in Motihari, Raxaul, Sugauli, Areraj and Chakiya. Shiwani, a teacher at Urvarak Nagar in Begusarai, said, 'The BLO asked for my voter ID and Aadhaar cards and I faced no difficulty.' Kalyanesh Agrawal of Chatti Road locality in Begusarai said the verification process was smooth. Awadhesh Kumar Singh, principal of SBSS College, Begusarai, said the BLO visited his house and the process was conducted without hassle. In Patna, people were seen at Jan Suvidha Kendras in their areas to get their forms filled. Former councillor Bharti Devi said there was confusion among people about the documents required. 'But we are getting the forms filled to submit them to the BLO,' she said. Born in 1949, Dukhani Devi of Mushari Tola feared her name would be struck off the voter list. 'Some people in my area said I will not be allowed to vote if I do not submit some papers. I only have an Aadhaar card and voter ID card. Will I be removed from my hut,' she asked. She was told that for now an Aadhaar would do, bringing a smile to her face. Aadhaar not valid here However, the real challenge for the EC to seek one of the 11 documents seems to be in Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria and Katihar districts of Seemanchal region, where people did not have proper documents in place and were seen standing in long queues at block offices, desperate to get residential certificates. More than two lakh such applications have been submitted in Kishanganj district alone in the first week of this month. 'This is alarming and should be investigated,' BJP's deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said. About a dozen BLOs in East Champaran district's rural areas, when contacted, said since the Aadhaar card is not a valid document and birth certificate a must for enrolment as a voter, they suggest that voters provide either a caste certificate or land allotment certificate or any specific family register. At least two to five members of a family have migrated to urban areas for a long time and are not available in the villages. In Rupani village, in Patahi block of East Champaran, around 25 families are facing this problem as they have no papers. 'We have voter cards only and have cast our votes on that basis in earlier polls. The BLOs suggested that we enrol where we live,' said a woman voter. Those who are employed somewhere else are also finding it difficult to fill in the form. Shyam Bihari Ojha, a railway employee posted at Bongaon, West Bengal, said he is a resident of Babhangaon near Ara, in Bhojpur district. 'I can't afford to take leave to visit my village for the documents of my parents, as is required among the 11 documents. My father is not even aware of the electoral roll revision. My parents have no birth certificate or any other document, except Aadhaar cards,' he said. Vivek Kumar of village Ratanpur, under Haspura block in Aurangabad district, said his family of 15 electors received only four forms. 'We have been asked to attach documents like a copy of a matriculation certificate, Aadhaar card, and residential certificate with each form,' he said. Since all the documents are not available, they might face problems retaining their names on the voter list. Dhananjay Yadav of Baluan, Ara, said he is a zilla parishad member but had not yet got the enumeration form. Satyadev of Bhakura village has 10 eligible voters in his family but got only three forms. Many in Ara, including Kamlesh Kumar, have similar complaints. A BLO in Ara said many voters — particularly the elderly — without birth or any academic certificate are reluctant to furnish their land ownership documents. In Bhagalpur, Indradev Yadav said he and many others were camping at Babupur as their diara area was flooded. 'From where will we procure documents?' he asked. Manohar Mandal, Jitendra Kumar, Anil Rai and Bhairo Paswan, also from the riverine area, said this was not the right time for such an exercise. There was a mixed response in Gaya district. While many said the process was easy, some voters complained they had not received forms. Anwar Hussain of Murarpur, in Gaya town, said all his 13 family members filled the forms and handed them to the BLO. Anju Kumari of New Godown area said the BLO collected the forms with a copy of a matriculation certificate attached.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Our border is with Tibet, not China: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu takes swipe at Beijing
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu (File photo) Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,200km border with Tibet, not China, chief minister Pema Khandu declared Wednesday in a surgical swipe at Beijing for repeatedly laying claim to the northeastern state, and also creating what he called a ticking "water bomb" in the form of the world's largest dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra in India) river. "Officially, yes, Tibet is under China now. That can't be ruled out... but originally we shared a border with Tibet," he told PTI in Delhi on his way back from the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration in Dharamshala. "In Arunachal Pradesh, we share three international boundaries - with Bhutan approximately 150km, with Tibet... and on the eastern side, with Myanmar approximately 550km." Khandu, in his third consecutive term as CM and credited with strengthening BJP's hold on the state, made the remarks while seeking to "correct" the interviewer the moment he referred to Arunachal Pradesh bordering China. Pointing to China's "forcible" occupation of Tibet in 1950, Khandu said that if one looked at India's map, "none of the Indian states directly shares borders with China". The CM's statement comes amid China's intensified bid to stamp its authority on the Dalai Lama's succession. Union minister and fellow Arunachal Pradesh native Kiren Rijiju, said recently that the decision on who should be the Dalai Lama's successor should be solely his and in accordance with established Tibetan Buddhist convention. No government, including China's communist regime, should have a say, he said. On the dam China is building on the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, Khandu warned that the project poses an 'existential threat' to Arunachal and its neighbouring northeastern states. He termed it 'a bigger issue' than anything else other than the Chinese 'military threat' hanging over the region. Khandu said Beijing not being a signatory to any international water treaty meant it 'cannot be trusted'. 'No one knows what they might do... Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed. The Adi tribe and similar groups would suffer devastating effects,' he said. The CM said that after discussions with the Union government, Arunachal Pradesh conceived the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as a bulwark against China's intentions. 'Since we cannot make China see reason, it is better that we focus on our own defence mechanisms and preparations,' he told PTI.
