PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: ₹1 Lakh Cr Outlay, 3.5 Cr Jobs Target till 2027

Cabinet Raises EPFO Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000; 51 Lakh More Workers Covered from Sept 17

Union Cabinet has approved raising the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, effective September 17. This will bring 51 lakh additional workers under EPFO, EPS, and EDLI schemes, with annual government outgo increasing by ~₹1,089 crore.

EPFO Wage Ceiling Hiked to ₹25,000 After 12 Years: 8 Cr Subscribers Impacted

The Ministry of Labour has raised the EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 after 12 years, expanding mandatory social security coverage to over 51 lakh additional workers. While this boosts retirement savings and formalisation, it may reduce take-home pay for employees earning between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 and increase costs for employers, especially MSMEs.

Cabinet Raises EPFO Wage Ceiling to ₹25,000, 51 Lakh More Workers Covered; EPS Minimum Pension Unresolved

The Union Cabinet has raised the wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 after a 12-year gap, bringing an additional 51 lakh workers under social security. However, the minimum pension of ₹1,000 per month remains unchanged since 2014, with 45% of 82 lakh pensioners receiving that amount or less, sparking demands for urgent revision.

EPFO Wage Ceiling Raised to ₹25,000: Mandatory Coverage for 51 Lakh More Employees

The Union Cabinet raised the EPFO wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, bringing over 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory social security coverage. The move aims to formalise employment and strengthen retirement savings, but trade unions call it "too little too late" while MSMEs worry about increased contribution burden.

Parliamentary Panel Report: Health Spend at 1.4% vs 2.5% GDP Target; Article 21 Right to Health

The Standing Committee's 176th report has yet again flagged India's stagnant public health spend—1.4% of GDP against the 2.5% target in the National Health Policy, 2017. Its proposed hospital-vs-hotel benchmarking overlooks the constitutional right to health under Article 21. With private equity flowing into healthcare and the Supreme Court examining regulation under the Clinical Establishments Act, this is an important multi-dimensional issue for aspirants.

MCA Data Reveals Only 9 Women CEOs, 25 MDs in India's Top 500 Listed Companies

Ministry of Corporate Affairs data tabled in Lok Sabha reveals severe underrepresentation of women in top corporate leadership: only 9 CEOs and 25 MDs among India's 500 largest listed companies. This directly impacts the UPSC/state PSC themes of women empowerment, corporate governance, and the effectiveness of legal mandates under the Companies Act, 2013.

16th FC Report: UCT Schemes Exceed 50% of Education Budget in 3 States, Fiscal Space Shrinks

The 16th Finance Commission and Economic Survey have raised concerns over the rising fiscal burden of Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) schemes for women. In states like Jharkhand, UCT spending exceeds 10% of total state expenditure and over 50% of education spending, threatening other public services. With 44% of state expenditure locked in interest, pensions, and salaries, fiscal space is shrinking.

VB-G RAM G Scheme: Karnataka Person-Days Fall 70% in July, 805 GPs with Nil Expenditure

The new VB-G RAM G scheme, which replaced MGNREGA from July 1, 2026, has seen a drastic drop in employment generation in Karnataka - only 17.98 lakh person-days in July 2026 vs 61.48 lakh in July 2025 under MGNREGA. Implementation delays, lack of clarity, and procedural hurdles are blamed. This is critical for understanding rural employment policy shifts.