LUCKNOW, Sept. 1 -- The Uttar Pradesh Corporation for Outsourced Services (UPCOS) portal is expected to go live soon, paving the way for the registration of vendors and streamlining the recruitment of outsourced employees across the state. The initiative aims to bring the recruitment of outsourced workers under a single system. It is expected to improve transparency, provide greater job security and ensure access to social security benefits such as the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees' State Insurance (ESI). Manish Chauhan, principal secretary, secretariat administration, said, "With the portal, Uttar Pradesh will begin the process of recruiting outsourced employees under one umbrella, based on the requirements submitted by various departments." Around 2.70 lakh employees are currently working on an outsourced basis in the state. The number is expected to increase to about 3.5 lakh. The UPCOS will cater to the requirements of all government departments by bringing departments and vendors onto a common platform. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the formation of the corporation on September 2, 2025. A formal government order was issued on September 19, 2025, to regulate outsourced recruitment in the state and ensure transparency, accountability and the welfare of workers. According to Chauhan, the UPCOS will select the lowest (L1) vendor for the requirements raised by each department. The concerned department will then have the freedom to choose suitable candidates from among the applicants provided by the selected vendor. He said the UPCOS will function on the lines of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for the selection of vendors and the processing of applications. According to the government order, the minimum monthly payment for class I outsourced employees with qualifications such as MBBS, BTech and similar professional degrees will be Rs.40,000. The minimum monthly payment for Class II employees will be Rs.25,000, while Class III employees will receive at least Rs.22,000 per month. The minimum monthly payment for Class IV employees has been fixed at Rs.20,000....