Employment In India

Many Opposition-ruled states have provisioned VB G RAM G funds: Chouhan

Chouhan also said that the Opposition's protest against VB G RAM G has failed to garner any public support because the country has accepted it as a better scheme than its previous version (MGNREGA)

India expands higher education access, but jobs gap remains: Report

India has made substantial progress in expanding access to higher education for youth in the last four decades, helping them move from agriculture to industry and services, and reduced gender and caste-based disparities, a report said. However, the 'State of Working India 2026' report stated that the challenges remain and the extent to which the large, increasingly educated, and aspirational cohort is absorbed into the labour market will determine whether India's demographic dividend translates into an economic dividend. India has made substantial progress in expanding access to higher education for its young (15- to 29-year-old) population, ensuring a movement out of agriculture into industry and services, and reduced gender and caste-based disparities, it stated. "More young people today are educated, informed, and ambitious than ever before. These are real achievements of which we can be proud," noted Indu Prasad, President, Azim Premji University in a statement. The report dra

Unemployment dips marginally to 4.9% in February, shows govt survey

Overall unemployment among persons aged 15 years and above fell marginally to 4.9 per cent in February from 5 per cent in January this year, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released on Monday. After an increase in January 2026, the urban unemployment rate (UR) among persons aged 15 years and above declined to 6.6 per cent in February 2026, falling below the December 2025 level (6.7%), the survey stated. Rural UR remained unchanged at 4.2 per cent in February 2026. In February 2026, the overall unemployment rate (UR) among females aged 15 years and above declined to 5.1 per cent, compared to 5.6 per cent in January, 2026. Decline was observed in both rural and urban areas. The urban female UR decreased from 9.8 per cent in January 2026 to 8.7 per cent in February 2026, while the rural female UR declined from 4.3 per cent to 4.0 per cent during the same period. The overall male UR remained stable at 4.8 per cent. The overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFP

Flexi-staffing industry growth falls to three-quarter low in Q3FY26

Sequential growth in India's flexi-staffing sector slowed to 0.5 per cent in Q3 FY26 as firms paused hiring amid labour code implementation, according to an ISF report

India's hiring outlook hits record high for April-June quarter: Report

Indian employers reported a strengthening of hiring intentions for the April-June quarter of this year, supported by surging business confidence and resilient domestic demand, a survey said on Tuesday. According to ManpowerGroup's latest Employment Outlook Survey, the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q2 2026 hit a record high of 68 per cent, up 17 points from the previous quarter and rising 24 points year-over-year. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity. The Employment Outlook Survey was of more than 3,000 employers across India, conducted from January 1 to February 3, 2026. As per the report, the combination of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and strong economic growth projections for 2026 provides a solid foundation for businesses. Furthermore, improving trade prospects, such as India-EU agreeme

Employer must pay penalty for delay in compensation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has fastened the liability to pay penalty on an employer for a delay in depositing the compensation amount under the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, saying the law is a "social welfare statute" for redressing employees' grievances. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale said in a catena of judgments, the apex court has stressed the "liberal and purposive interpretation" of the Act in favour of the employees being a social-welfare legislation. The bench delivered its verdict on an appeal filed by an insurance firm, challenging a May 2025 order of the Delhi High Court. The high court had fastened the liability of paying the penalty imposed under section 4A(3)(b) of the Act on the insurance firm. "The perusal of the statement of objects of the said legislation makes it crystal clear that the said legislation is a social welfare statute brought in by Parliament to redress the grievances of the employees in case of accidents that may occur in or during the

Budget 2026: Centre allocates ₹30K cr for MGNREGA to clear pending dues

New Act to be notified from April 1, giving states six months to transition and notify it individually

Labour codes to boost jobs, corporate investment needed: Eco Survey

Effective implementation of Labour Codes will play a key role in boosting formal employment and enhancing security for women and gig workers, the Economic Survey for 2025-26 stated, while outlining the need for investment and coordination from private sector companies. The document, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, noted that four codes were notified (on November 21, 2025), and rules are expected to be in place in the next few months. The Survey suggested that as definitions of work continue to evolve, dynamic labour policy and flexible regulatory frameworks would ensure employment expansion, worker security and well-being. "Implementing the Codes marks the first step towards the labour market transformation. The transition will require coordination and investment from the private sector," it pointed out. The pre-Budget document suggested that the companies must enhance their systems, update policies, reevaluate workforce models, and improve

MGNREGA overhauled as overall architecture had reached limits: Eco Survey

Reassessment needed in light of evolving rural realities; MGNREGS structural weakness limited its effectiveness, says Survey

Trade, mobility pacts to open new opportunities for youth: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is entering into trade and mobility agreements with various nations to create new opportunities for the youth both within the country and abroad. Modi made these remarks at the 18th Rozgar Mela where he handed over 61,000 appointment letters for various government jobs electronically. "India is signing trade and mobility agreements with several countries. These trade agreements are bringing new opportunities for the youth of the nation," Modi said, addressing the Rozgar Mela at 45 locations across the country via video conferencing. Modi said India has the maximum number of youngsters in the world and his government was making efforts to create new opportunities for the youth within the country and abroad. A PMO statement said the Rozgar Mela is a key initiative aimed at translating this vision into action in line with the prime minister's commitment to accord the highest priority to employment generation. Since its inception, mo

Unemployment rate inches up in Dec to 4.8%, still the second-lowest in FY26

The unemployment rate had fallen to an eight-month low of 4.7 per cent in November

Labour secretary urges states to expedite finalisation of labour code rules

Labour secretary Vandana Gurnani has urged states to fast-track labour code rules, avoid overlaps with Shops and Establishments Acts, and strengthen Centre-state coordination

Jobs of the future: These 10 roles set to grow despite rapid AI adoption

84 per cent of professionals in India feel unprepared to find a new job, even as 72 per cent say they are actively searching for a new role in 2026

Centre proposes 90 days work rule for gig workers to get social security

Centre pre-publishes draft labour rules, says gig workers must work 90 days a year to qualify for social security benefits; stakeholders can give feedback

Labour Min's flagship employment scheme logs 235K registrations in 2025

The Labour Ministry said the PMVBRY portal recorded 235K establishment registrations in 2025, with incentives for first-time employees and employers for jobs created between 2025 and 2027

VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 becomes law as President Murmu gives assent

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, the Rural Development Ministry said. The VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament, amid opposition protests. It seeks to replace the existing rural employment law, MGNREGA, and guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year. According to the government, the new scheme aims to establish a rural development framework aligned with the national vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.

Human capital is the only appreciating asset in business: Arun Maira

Maira said that India's competitive advantage was its large number of employable human beings, many of whom were still not being decently engaged or employed

New labour codes suitable for nature of employment, GDP growth: Secretary

The four labour codes enforced in November are suitable for the present nature of employment as well as the kind of economic growth happening in the country, a senior official said on Friday. Addressing the National Logistics Summit 3.0 organised by PHDCCI, Union Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani termed the new labour codes as a game-changer for a dynamic economy. The complexities and the outdated laws have been done away with, and rules are now being streamlined into four codes enacted in 2019-20 and activated from November 21, 2025, she pointed out. She said, "These codes are now fit for purpose in terms of what the current nature of employment is, and the significant economic growth India is witnessing." Gurnani mentioned about easing of various compliance norms, including the reduction in the number of registrations from 8 to one, 31 returns to one, and 87 registers to eight. She emphasised that the new codes will ensure minimum wages, mandatory appointment letters, and enhance

Centre planned to modify MGNREGA over repeated complaints: Shivraj Chouhan

Government introduces VB G-RAM-G bill in Parliament to replace MGNREGA amid strong opposition protest

Unemployment rate at 8-month low of 4.7% in November, shows PLFS

For urban areas, the jobless rate fell to 6.5 per cent from 7 per cent during the same period