New rural employment scheme prioritises water security works
A gram panchayat-level planning framework was released for rural works under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin (VB-GRAMG), which is scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2026
The framework prioritises water security works — repair and restoration of ponds, farm reservoirs, and check dams — alongside disaster mitigation and climate resilience
States facing rainfall deficits have been directed to strengthen water conservation measures and prepare employment-generation works in anticipation of an El Niño-linked rain-deficiency situation during the kharif season
Gram panchayats have been empowered to plan projects spanning four thematic domains: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood assets, and disaster mitigation
111 high-priority districts have been identified nationally for El Niño preparedness ahead of the kharif season
VB-GRAMG Act, 2025 — Replacement of MGNREGA
The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2025, and passed by Parliament on December 18–19, 2025, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA). It restructures the statutory rural employment guarantee for the "Viksit Bharat @2047" vision.
Key Details
- Raises the statutory employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per household per financial year
- Shifts from MGNREGA's fully Centre-funded wage model to a Centre-State cost-sharing and normative-allocation structure, increasing the financial responsibility of states
- Works are organised under four thematic domains: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and mitigation of extreme weather events
- Mandates a "no-work" period of up to 60 days per financial year during notified peak sowing/harvesting seasons, to avoid competing with agricultural labour demand
The VB-GRAMG planning framework being rolled out now operationalises the Act's four thematic domains at the gram panchayat level, with water security and climate-resilience works given priority for the current El Niño-affected season.
Panchayati Raj Institutions and Article 243G
Article 243G of the Constitution, inserted by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, empowers state legislatures to endow gram panchayats with powers and authority to function as institutions of self-government, including preparation of plans for economic development, listed in the Eleventh Schedule (which includes rural housing, drinking water, and land improvement/water conservation).
Key Details
- The Eleventh Schedule (added by the 73rd Amendment) lists 29 subjects that may be devolved to Panchayats, including minor irrigation, water management, and watershed development
- Gram Sabha's role in participatory planning is central to schemes like MGNREGA/VB-GRAMG, where local bodies identify and prioritise works
- Article 243G is a Directive Principle-style enabling provision — devolution is discretionary on states, unlike the mandatory constitution of panchayats under Article 243B
The new framework relies on gram panchayats to plan and prioritise water-security and disaster-mitigation works locally, exercising the planning function envisaged under Article 243G.
Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Climate Resilience in Rural Works
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 established the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chaired by the Prime Minister, to lay down policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management, including for climate-induced hazards such as drought and heatwaves.
Key Details
- Enacted after Parliament passed it in November–December 2005; NDMA is the apex statutory body under the Act
- The National Disaster Management Plan (2016, updated 2019) mandates involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions as the first line of response during rural disasters
- Rural employment schemes are increasingly used as a delivery vehicle for disaster mitigation works — such as rainwater harvesting structures, disaster-resilient assets, and afforestation — bringing climate adaptation into the rural livelihoods framework
By making "mitigation of extreme weather events" one of the four thematic domains of VB-GRAMG works, the scheme embeds disaster-resilience planning (in the spirit of the DM Act, 2005 framework) directly into rural employment guarantee works.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Water Conservation Convergence
Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched on July 1, 2019, and expanded since 2021 as "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain," is a time-bound campaign focused on water conservation and rainwater harvesting in water-stressed districts, run in convergence with rural employment schemes.
Key Details
- Initial phase covered 1,592 blocks across 256 water-stressed districts
- Five key interventions: water conservation/rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional water bodies, reuse/recharge structures, watershed development, and afforestation
- Operates in convergence with MGNREGA (now VB-GRAMG), the 15th Finance Commission's tied grants to local bodies, and state schemes
The water-security prioritisation under the new VB-GRAMG planning framework extends the convergence model already used under Jal Shakti Abhiyan, aligning rural employment works with water conservation targets ahead of the El Niño-affected kharif season.
- VB-GRAMG Act, 2025 passed by Parliament: December 18–19, 2025; effective from July 1, 2026
- Employment guarantee raised from 100 to 125 days per household per financial year
- 111 high-priority districts identified nationally for El Niño preparedness for the kharif 2026 season
- Four thematic work domains under VB-GRAMG: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, disaster/extreme-weather mitigation
- Notified "no-work" period during peak agricultural season: up to 60 days per financial year
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019) initial coverage: 1,592 blocks in 256 water-stressed districts