NDA provided 1.5x more govt jobs than UPA, says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday distributed more than 100,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in the first Rozgar Mela (job fair) of 2024. 

Addressing the event via videoconferencing, Modi said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the past 10 years provided 1.5 times more government jobs for the youth than during the decade-long rule of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

“Today, every youth believes that they can cement their job position with hard work and skills. After 2014, we have strived to make the youth a partner in the development of the nation. The present BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government has given approximately 1.5 times (more) government jobs in its 10 years (then) the number of government jobs that the previous government had given in its decade-long tenure,” he said.

The PM highlighted the efforts of the government in opening up new sectors and creation of employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth. Modi mentioned the Interim Budget announcement of 10 million rooftop solar plants to reduce the power bill of the families and enable them to earn money by selling excess electricity. “The scheme will create lakhs of new jobs,” he said.

Mentioning that India is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world with about 125,000 startups, the prime minister expressed happiness that many of these startups were from tier-II and -III cities.

“As these startups are creating new job opportunities, the latest Budget announced the continuation of the tax rebate for them. Also, a Rs 1 trillion fund has been announced in the Budget to promote research and innovation,” he added.

Giving specific number of appointments, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said: “256,405 appointments (were) made under the staff selection commission (SSC) during the UPA rule (while) 511,775 appointments have been made under the present government." 

"Similarly, 492,605 appointments were made under the railway recruitment board (RRB) in the last 10 years, as compared to the 411,624 appointments made under the ten-year period of the previous government,” Singh said.

He said the share of women in new appointments in Rojgar Melas had gone up to 18-20 per cent compared to the 7-8 per cent share in the appointments made by the previous government. 

“In terms of appointments made to the backlog vacancies which are fixed for SCs/STs/OBCs, there has been an estimated 150 per cent increase in the last 10 years. As compared to 108,034 such appointments made by the UPA, 293,475 appointments have been made under the NDA,” he added.