First-time workers can get up to Rs 15,000 incentive on completing EPFO financial literacy course

First-time employees can receive money directly in their bank accounts under a government scheme. Eligible employees get an incentive equal to one month's salary, capped at Rs 15,000.

The amount is not paid in one go but in two instalments. The first instalment comes after six continuous months on the job. For the second, the employee must complete 12 months of employment and also finish the financial literacy programme on the EPFO member portal. Getting a job alone will not bring the full amount automatically; the prescribed conditions must be met.

There are conditions on who can benefit. The employee must be in formal employment for the first time and must never have been an EPFO member before. The monthly salary must be up to Rs 1 lakh, and the employee must be registered with the EPFO.

The period of joining is also fixed. According to the EPFO, eligible employees who get a job between August 1, 2025 and July 7, 2027 qualify for the scheme. The employee's bank account must also be linked to Aadhaar so that the incentive can be sent directly to the account.

The EPFO shared the information on October 16, 2026 from its official handle @officialepfo. The post, carrying the hashtag of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, told first-time employees that their incentive was "just one course away". Completing the financial literacy course on the EPFO member portal makes them eligible for an incentive of up to Rs 15,000.

To get the second instalment, the employee must take this financial literacy course on the EPFO member portal. The programme aims to teach employees about saving, financial planning and future financial security. Eligibility for the second instalment arises only after the course is completed.

The government launched the scheme to promote formal employment and give financial help to first-time employees.