National Employment Fair: Over 12.75 Lakh Youth Receive Appointment Letters Across 20 Editions

The National Employment Fair is a significant government initiative aimed at accelerating the recruitment process for government positions and increasing employment opportunities for the youth. Launched on October 22, 2022, with an initial target of 10 lakh government jobs, the initiative has now evolved into a nationwide recruitment campaign. Twenty editions of this mission have been completed, through which a total of more than 12.75 lakh appointment letters have been handed over so far.

The 20th edition of the National Employment Fair was organized on September 19, 2026. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the program via video conferencing and provided more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth across various government departments and organizations.

This recruitment process is based on a mission-oriented approach, with vacancies being filled through designated agencies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and Railway Recruitment Boards. To date, appointed employees have joined several departments, including the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The primary objective of the employment fairs is to connect youth with employment and skill development opportunities, establish direct communication between job seekers and employers, and strengthen the skilled workforce. These fairs are organized in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Sector Skill Councils (SSC), and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK).

Youth between the ages of 18 and 35 can participate in these fairs, including those who have passed the eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades, ITI and diploma holders, graduates, and NSQF-certified candidates. In addition to recruitment, the initiative provides complementary services such as career counseling, training under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), and loan assistance for entrepreneurship through the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

Significant milestones in the campaign's progress include the total recruitment figure crossing 10 lakh during the 16th edition. Meanwhile, the 'Pratibha Setu Portal' was announced in the 17th edition, which connects candidates who were included in the UPSC final list but not selected to other opportunities. The 18th edition emphasized women's participation, with more than 8,000 women receiving appointment letters. In the 19th edition, Indian Railways was the leading recruitment sector, accounting for more than 50 percent of the appointments.