Punjab Employment Subsidy: Anchor Units
By Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Punjab
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Anchor units in Punjab get ₹36,000 per Punjab-domicile employee per year for 5 years, rising to ₹48,000 for women and SC/BC/OBC employees.
About this subsidy
Clause 12.9 of Punjab's Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022 pays anchor units to hire locally. The subsidy is ₹36,000 per employee per year for a maximum of 5 years from the date of commercial production, and ₹48,000 per employee per year over the same period for women and SC/BC/OBC employees. Only directly recruited employees with Punjab domicile count, and each must have a unique identification number where PF is being subscribed, or an ESIC number where ESI contribution is being paid. Those two conditions matter in practice: contract labour hired through a manpower agency, and staff kept off the PF/ESI rolls, earn the unit nothing under this clause.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Subsidy providers
The Department of Industries & Commerce is the Government of Punjab's department that runs the Punjab Start-up Cell. The Cell is headed by the Director of Industries and Commerce and acts as a single point of contact for the state's startup policy. The department is based at…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹48,000
What You Get
Two rates, both payable per employee per year for a maximum of 5 years from the date of commercial production: ₹36,000 for a directly recruited Punjab-domicile employee, and ₹48,000 where that employee is a woman or from SC/BC/OBC. Eligibility is evidenced through the statutory payroll trail — a unique identification number where PF is subscribed, or an ESIC number where ESI contribution is paid — so the subsidy effectively rewards formal, on-roll employment.
- Disbursement
- Reimbursement
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Non-competitive. The department checks anchor status, then verifies each claimed employee against direct recruitment, Punjab domicile and the PF/ESI record before releasing the applicable per-employee rate.
Application Process
- 1
Anchor status
The State accords Anchor Unit status to the project.
Provider - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 2
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 3
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 4
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is paid per employee?
₹36,000 per employee per year, and ₹48,000 per year for women and SC/BC/OBC employees.
For how long?
A maximum of 5 years from the date of commercial production.
Does contract labour count?
No — only directly recruited employees are considered.
Is there a domicile condition?
Yes — the employee must be a domicile of Punjab.
What proof is needed for each employee?
A unique identification number where PF is being subscribed, or an ESIC number where ESI contribution is being paid.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
