Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, a bold
Rs 1 lakh crore initiative aimed at bolstering youth employment. The announcement was made on 15 August 2025 during India’s 79th Independence Day address in New Delhi. Under the new scheme, young men and women entering their first private-sector job will receive Rs 15,000 directly from the government, while companies hiring more youth will be offered incentives. Modi said: “This... scheme will create nearly 3.5 crore new employment opportunities for the youth.”
#IndependenceDay2025
PM Modi says, "From today, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana is being implemented... Under this scheme, young men and women getting their first job in the private sector will receive Rs 15,000 from the govt... The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat… pic.twitter.com/Pyx1q6iLVX— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 15, 2025
Massive Youth Employment Drive
The initiative is among the most ambitious schemes to date, targeting 3.5 crore jobs. PM Modi emphasised: “Companies that create more employment opportunities will also be given incentive amounts,” highlighting the role of private enterprise in driving job creation.
Semiconductor Self-Reliance
Modi acknowledged past missteps, saying “the idea of semiconductor was killed in the womb 50–60 years ago”. Determined to correct that course, he stated that India is now working on semiconductors in "mission mode" and that "Made in India" chips will hit the market by year-end.
#IndependenceDay2025
"We are launching a scheme worth Rs 1 lakh crore for the youth of our country. From today, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana is being implemented... Under this scheme, young men and women getting their first job in the private sector will… pic.twitter.com/ivxL2TRDP4— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 15, 2025
GST Overhaul by Diwali
In addition to employment and tech, Modi promised tax reform: “By this Diwali, you will see a new, simplified GST structure that makes life easier for the common man and strengthens our economy.” He called it a “bahut bada tohfa” — a very big gift for citizens.
READ MORE: Big Diwali Surprise! PM Modi Promises Cheaper Goods with GST Reforms
Context & Additional Insight
- Employment Landscape: With over 220 million youth entering the workforce by 2030, the scheme’s scale reflects an urgent need to foster large-scale private-sector hiring.
- Semiconductor Strategy: India’s push aligns with global tech nationalism trends, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and attract chip manufacturing investments.
- GST Simplification: The planned reforms aim to address persistent compliance complexities that SMEs have long flagged as barriers to growth.
