The Indian government has introduced and reinforced several key schemes and policies over the past 24 hours, focusing on employment, worker welfare, financial inclusion, and international cooperation.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY) to Generate 3.5 Crore Jobs

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, addressing the National Conference of Labour & Employment and Industry Ministers and Secretaries of states/UTs on November 11, 2025, underscored the importance of the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). This ambitious scheme has an allocated outlay of nearly Rs 1 lakh crore and aims to create 3.5 crore jobs across the country. States have been urged to align their employment programs with this national mission to maximize synergy and impact.

Digital Initiatives for Construction Workers Launched

During the same conference, Minister Mandaviya also launched two crucial digital initiatives: the Digital Labour Chowk mobile app and the Online Building and Other Construction Workers (BoCW) Cess Collection Portal. These tools are designed to streamline processes and extend benefits to construction workers. Discussions at the conference also included the draft 'Shram Shakti Niti' (National Labour & Employment Policy), envisioned as a comprehensive document to foster an inclusive, fair, and resilient ecosystem for workers.

Karnataka to Launch Cooperative for Women's Financial Empowerment

In a move to further empower women, Karnataka is set to launch the Gruha Lakshmi Multipurpose Cooperative Society on November 19, 2025. This society will offer low-interest loans of up to Rs 3 lakh to beneficiaries of the existing Gruha Lakshmi scheme. According to Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, this initiative aims to significantly improve the financial strength and independence of women, enabling them to pursue self-employment or meet other essential needs.

India and Saudi Arabia Sign Hajj Agreement for 2026

Strengthening bilateral ties, India and Saudi Arabia signed a Hajj agreement for 2026 on November 12, 2025. The agreement fixes India's quota at 175,025 pilgrims and includes commitments to upgrade transport, accommodation, and health services for Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. This agreement is expected to bolster cooperation between the two nations in religious and logistical domains.

Other Key Updates:

• The **Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)**, effective April 1, 2025, provides an assured, inflation-indexed retirement benefit option for Central Government employees under the National Pension System (NPS). Existing employees and retirees have until November 30, 2025, to exercise this option.
• The **PM SHRI Scheme** continues its work of upgrading Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS) into model institutions aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As of October 2025, 913 KVS and 620 NVS schools have been upgraded, with an approval for 57 new civil-sector KVs.
• The Maharashtra government has begun clearing outstanding dues amounting to approximately ₹10,000 crore to contractors involved in various government schemes, amidst upcoming local body elections. The total outstanding payments were around ₹89,000 crore.
• The Uttar Pradesh government announced expected investments of Rs 11,000 crore in Aligarh and confirmed it would bear 30% of export freight for agricultural products, highlighting its focus on economic development.
• Starting November 15, 2025, new **FASTag KYC compliance** rules will lead to penalties for drivers without proper KYC verification. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has simplified the process and offered grace periods.