Today's Brief 19/08/2025

1 .The Gaganyaan mission

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

is India's ambitious and groundbreaking human spaceflight program, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 

The primary objective is to demonstrate India's indigenous capability for human spaceflight by sending a three-person crew to a low Earth orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and safely returning them to Earth with a splashdown in the Arabian Sea. 

The mission is set to make India the fourth country, after the United States, Russia, and China, to independently achieve this milestone. 

The program involves the development of several critical technologies, including a human-rated launch vehicle (LVM3), a crew escape system for astronaut safety, and life support systems. 

The mission is not just a technological feat but also a significant step for India's scientific and geopolitical standing, as it aims to foster international collaborations, inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers, and lay the foundation for future deep-space exploration and the establishment of an Indian space station.

2 .The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY)

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

is a new employment-linked incentive scheme launched by the Government of India to boost job creation, particularly in the organized private sector.

Announced by the Prime Minister on Independence Day 2025, the scheme has a financial outlay of nearly ₹1 lakh crore and aims to create over 3.5 crore jobs over a two-year period, from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2027.

The scheme has two main components, offering incentives to both employees and employers:

1. For First-Time Employees:

   • Incentive: Eligible first-time employees will receive a one-time cash incentive of up to ₹15,000, equivalent to one month's EPF wage.

   • Eligibility: The employee must join an Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)-registered establishment for the first time with a gross monthly wage of up to ₹1 lakh.

   • Payment: The incentive is disbursed in two installments: the first after six months of continuous employment and the second after 12 months, which also requires the completion of a financial literacy module. A portion of the second installment is directed into a savings account to promote long-term financial habits.

     
     

2. For Employers:

   • Incentive: Employers who hire additional staff are eligible for a monthly incentive of up to ₹3,000 for each new employee, provided the job is sustained for at least six months.

   • Eligibility: The employer must be registered with the EPFO and meet a hiring threshold (e.g., at least two additional hires for companies with under 50 employees).

   • Duration of Benefit: The incentive is provided for two years for most sectors, with an extended benefit of up to four years for firms in the manufacturing sector.

The PMVBRY is a central sector scheme, meaning it is fully funded by the central government, and is implemented through the EPFO.

Its primary goal is to formalize the workforce, provide social security, and create a mutually beneficial environment where both employees and employers are incentivized to participate in and contribute to India's economic growth.