Press Note Details: Press Information Bureau

Social Welfare

Rozgar Mela

12.75 Lakh+ Appointment Letters Distributed Across 20 Editions

Posted On: 19 SEP 2026 2:25PM

The National Rozgar Mela is a government initiative focused on accelerating recruitment to government posts while expanding employment opportunities for youth. Launched in October 2022 with an initial target of 10 lakh government jobs, the initiative has evolved into a nationwide mission-mode recruitment effort. The initiative has completed 20 editions and facilitated the distribution of 12.75 lakh appointment letters. The 20th edition distributed over 51,000 appointment letters in September 2026. The initiative brings together recruitment, skill development, career counselling and entrepreneurship support, connecting youth with diverse employment pathways. By facilitating direct interaction between job seekers and employers and supporting skill-to-job linkages, Rozgar Melas contribute to strengthening the skilled workforce and enabling young people to participate in public service and national development.

Rozgar Mela: Accelerating Government Recruitment

The 20th edition of the National Rozgar Mela was conducted on 19 September 2026, with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressing the event through video conferencing and distributing over 51,000 appointment letters to newly inducted youth in government departments and organisations.

The National Rozgar Mela is a government initiative focused on expediting recruitment to government posts and filling vacancies across Ministries, Departments and organisations. It is part of the Government’s broader focus on youth empowerment, timely recruitment and nation-building.

Launched on 22 October 2022, the initiative initially focused on facilitating the recruitment of 10 lakh individuals to government posts in a time-bound manner. The first Rozgar Mela distributed more than 75,000 appointment letters at 50 locations across the country. Through the first 19 editions, over 12 lakh recruitment letters have been issued, exceeding the original target.

Recruitment has been pursued through a mission-mode approach, with Ministries and Departments working to fill vacancies against sanctioned posts. The process is undertaken through established recruitment mechanisms and designated agencies such as the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, and Railway Recruitment Boards.

The new recruits have joined the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Labour and Employment, and many other departments.

The initiative has accelerated public recruitment while creating opportunities for young people to begin their careers in public service and contribute to the nation’s development.

Rozgar Mela: Connecting Youth with Employment Opportunities

A Rozgar Mela is a half-day event that brings employers and job seekers together to apply and interview for available employment opportunities. It facilitates direct interaction between employers and prospective candidates, enabling them to explore suitable job opportunities.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) organises Rozgar Melas in collaboration with Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs). Private sector employers are mobilised to participate in these events and offer employment opportunities to eligible candidates.

Key Objectives

Empower youth through access to employment and skill development opportunities
Facilitate direct interaction between job seekers and employers
Enable skilled youth to participate in the workforce and contribute to national development
Reflect the Prime Minister’s vision of equitable development across the country

Who Can Participate?

Rozgar Melas generally cater to youth aged 18 to 35 years and offer employment opportunities to candidates with diverse educational and skill backgrounds, including:

8th, 10th and 12th pass candidates
ITI and Diploma holders
Graduates
Trained and certified candidates aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)

Information about Rozgar Melas is disseminated through print advertisements, bulk SMS, and social media platforms. Workshops in colleges and universities, along with targeted outreach in and around the districts where the Melas are organised, further help connect eligible candidates with these employment opportunities.

Beyond Recruitment

Rozgar Melas also provide complementary services that support career planning, skill development and entrepreneurship, enabling participants to explore employment and livelihood pathways beyond immediate job opportunities.

Career Counselling

Sessions for job seekers and, where applicable, their parents to help them understand available employment opportunities and make informed career choices.

Kaushal Melas

Youth can register for fresh skill development training under programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK)-related training.

Mudra Loan Facilitation

Facilitation counters provide information and support on available credit opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. NSDC also has a formal linkage with the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to facilitate access to credit for skilled candidates seeking to establish or expand enterprises.

Skill Exhibitions

Sector Skill Councils showcase training models, equipment, and job roles from their respective sectors, helping participants understand different occupations and available career pathways.

How Rozgar Melas Benefit Stakeholders

For Job Seekers: Direct interaction with employers and access to job and entrepreneurship opportunities.
For Employers: A common platform to meet potential employees and identify suitable candidates.
For the Skill Ecosystem: Connects candidates, recruiters, SSCs, and training providers.

Edition-wise Progress of National Rozgar Mela

Edition	Date	Letters Distributed	Locations & Notable Details
1st	22 Oct 2022	75,000+	50 centres, Launch of the mission. Recruitment drive announced for 10 lakh Central Government posts.
2nd	22 Nov 2022	~71,000	45+ cities
3rd	20 Jan 2023	71,000	-
4th	13 Apr 2023	~71,000	45 locations, 45 departments, Held in Thiruvananthapuram
5th	16 May 2023	71,000+	45 centres, Organised across Mumbai, Pune and Nanded (Maharashtra)
6th	13 Jun 2023	~70,000	Held in Guwahati
7th	22 Jul 2023	70,000+	44 locations, Held in Goa
8th	28 Aug 2023	51,000+	45 locations, CAPF recruitment (CRPF, BSF, SSB, Assam Rifles, CISF, ITBP, NCB) and Delhi Police. Recruits called "Amrit Rakshak".
9th	26 Sep 2023	~51,000	46 locations
10th	28 Oct 2023	51,000+	New appointees are also allowed to enhance their skills through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online learning module on the iGOT Karmayogi portal. It offers 400+ e-learning courses in a flexible “anywhere, any device” format.
11th	30 Nov 2023	~51,000	37 locations, Recruits joined Customs & Excise, CGST, CISF, Armed Forces, ITBP, KVS, Postal Dept., Bank of India, Health Depts.
12th	12 Feb 2024	1 lakh+	Foundation stone laid for "Karmayogi Bhavan", New Delhi
13th	29 Oct 2024	51,000+	40 locations
14th	23 Dec 2024	71,000+	45 locations
15th	26 Apr 2025	51,000+	-
16th	12 Jul 2025	51,000+	47 locations, Cumulative tally crosses 10 lakhs. Recruits joined Railways, Posts, Home Affairs, Financial Services, Labour & Employment.
17th	24 Oct 2025	51,000+	40 locations, The Pratibha Setu Portal was announced during the 17th Rozgar Mela. It connects candidates who reached the UPSC final list but were not selected with potential opportunities in public and private institutions.
18th	24 Jan 2026	61,000+	45 locations, More than 8,000 women received appointment letters at the 18th Rozgar Mela, strengthening women’s participation in employment.
19th	23 May 2026	51,000+	47 locations, Cumulative tally reaches about 12 lakhs. More than 50% of the appointments under the 19th Rozgar Mela were dedicated to Indian Railways, making Railways the major recruiting sector in this edition
20th	19 September, 2026	51,000+	45 locations, With the 20th Rozgar Mela, a total of about 12.75 lakh youth have received appointment letters in various Departments and Government Organisations.

The Rozgar Mela provides a platform for direct interaction between job seekers and employers, helping address the challenge of unemployment while empowering youth to contribute to national development. With employment, skill development, counselling, and entrepreneurship opportunities brought together, Rozgar Melas continue to connect youth with opportunities and support the development of a skilled workforce. The 20th edition further strengthens this nationwide effort to expand access to employment opportunities.

References

Prime Minister's Office

http://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2311973&reg=48&lang=2

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2264076&reg=48&lang=2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=1892383&reg=48&lang=2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2143931&reg=48&lang=2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2218036&reg=3&lang=1
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2182324&reg=48&lang=2

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2069258&reg=48&lang=2

Ministry of Home Affairs

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1877966&reg=48&lang=2

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1870312&reg=48&lang=2

PIB Backgrounder