VB-G RAM G Act
Key Changes from MGNREGA
The Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, was passed to modernise rural employment guarantees under the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework. While it retains the concept of guaranteed wage employment, several structural changes mark a significant departure from MGNREGA.
The new Act raises the employment guarantee to 125 days per rural household per financial year (up from 100 days), introduces weekly wage payments (vs. 15-day cycles under MGNREGA), and pivots work focus to four thematic domains: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and extreme weather mitigation.
- Employment guarantee: 125 days per household per year (up from 100 days)
- Funding pattern (Centre:State): 90:10 for NE and Himalayan states; 60:40 for other states (vs. Centre-funded wages under MGNREGA)
- Administrative expense ceiling raised from 6% to 9% of programme expenditure
- Seasonal work pause: Sections 6(1) and 6(2) allow states to suspend work for up to 60 days during sowing/harvesting seasons
- Works organised under four domains: water security; rural infrastructure; livelihood infrastructure; extreme weather mitigation
- Budget 2026: ₹95,962 crore allocated for VB-G RAM G vs. ₹30,000 crore for MGNREGA wind-down
- Transition from rights-based entitlement to centrally steered "mission" model is a key criticism
● Tracked since March 08, 2026 · last seen June 28, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes