On February 27, 2025, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) notified the extension of the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for the period 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2026. The scheme, which provides unemployment benefits to insured persons, will continue with relaxed eligibility conditions and enhanced relief rates.
Key Highlights:
Extension Period: The scheme will now cover the period from 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2026.
Eligibility Relaxations: As with previous extensions, eligibility conditions for claiming relief have been relaxed. The scheme will continue the provisions introduced earlier, which lowered the eligibility requirement for insurable employment from two years to one year before unemployment.
Enhanced Relief: The relief rate provided under the scheme remains enhanced, as notified in previous relaxations. This includes measures such as adjustments made during COVID-19 to offer better support to beneficiaries.
Previous Notifications: This is part of a series of extensions and relaxations, with significant changes introduced in notifications published on:
- 16 October 2020: Relaxations for the period 24 March 2020 to 31 December 2020.
- 11 January 2021: Relaxation in filing claims under affidavit form.
- 27 January 2022: Further relaxation in the eligibility conditions, including reducing the insurable employment requirement from two years to one year.
Public Feedback:
ESIC invites objections and suggestions on this extension, which must be submitted within 30 days from the publication date. These can be addressed to Shri Deepak Joshi, Insurance Commissioner at ESIC, through email at dir-pnd@esic.nic.in.
Conclusion:
This extension provides continued support to workers who lose their jobs but have been contributing to the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme. By offering financial relief, the scheme aims to provide a safety net for insured persons during unemployment, especially with the relaxed eligibility criteria that make it easier for workers to qualify.
The ESIC’s decision to extend the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana signals ongoing support for employees facing job loss. With enhanced relief and relaxed conditions, the scheme remains a vital resource for insured workers.
