Kerala Cabinet revises CM's Connect to Work scheme; family income cap set at ₹5 lakh
The Kerala Cabinet on 14 January 2026 approved revised guidelines for the Chief Minister's Connect to Work scheme, which gives ₹1,000 a month for 12 months to youth in skill training or preparing for competitive exams, with an annual family income ceiling of ₹5 lakh.
Summary
The Chief Minister's Connect to Work scheme of Kerala got revised guidelines from the State Cabinet on 14 January 2026, fixing the annual family income ceiling for applicants at ₹5 lakh. Applicants must be permanent residents of Kerala aged 18 to 30, undergoing skill training at recognised government, public sector, university or private institutions, or preparing for recruitment exams such as those of the UPSC, State PSC, banks and railways. The scholarship of ₹1,000 a month for 12 months goes to the first five lakh eligible applicants through Direct Benefit Transfer, with applications on the eemployment.kerala.gov.in portal.
Key facts
- Scheme
- Chief Minister's Connect to Work (Kerala)
- Decision
- Revised guidelines approved by Kerala Cabinet, 14 January 2026
- Income ceiling
- Annual family income up to ₹5 lakh
- Eligibility
- Permanent residents of Kerala, aged 18–30; in skill training or preparing for competitive exams
- Benefit
- ₹1,000 a month for 12 months via DBT
- Coverage
- First 5 lakh eligible applicants
- Portal
- eemployment.kerala.gov.in
Practice MCQs 2 questions
In January 2026, the Kerala Cabinet fixed what annual family income ceiling for applicants under the Chief Minister's Connect to Work scheme?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ₹5 lakh
The Hindu and Mathrubhumi: the revised guidelines approved on 14 January 2026 fix the annual family income ceiling at ₹5 lakh.
Consider the following statements about Kerala's Chief Minister's Connect to Work scheme, as revised in January 2026: 1. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 years. 2. It provides ₹1,000 a month for 12 months. 3. It is open only to candidates preparing for the Kerala PSC examinations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The Hindu and Mathrubhumi: statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: youth in skill training and those preparing for UPSC, PSC, bank, railway and other recruitment exams can apply.