New Delhi: Amid continuing political debate over replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Centre is set to roll out the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G) from July 1. The BJP-led Union government on Tuesday said all administrative, financial and technical preparations have been completed for its nationwide implementation. With the rollout of the new law, the Centre will replace the nearly 20-year-old MGNREGS, which was introduced during the UPA government led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Ministry of Rural Development said an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore has been made to states and Union Territories to ensure a smooth transition, timely wage payments and uninterrupted implementation of works under the new framework.
125-day wage guarantee
The Act provides a statutory guarantee of up to 125 days of wage employment to eligible rural households, compared with the 100 days guaranteed under the existing MGNREGS framework.
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government's priority was to ensure that "no eligible rural worker remains without work even for a single day."
He said the Centre and the states had worked together to complete the administrative, financial and technical preparations for the rollout.
Existing job cards to remain valid
The government said existing e-KYC-verified job cards will remain valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
Gram panchayats will continue to play a key role in implementing the scheme, with a focus on natural resource management, water conservation, agriculture and allied activities, rural infrastructure, and women's empowerment, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, 29 states and Union Territories have made budgetary provisions for the Act, while 24 states have notified their respective VB-G RAM G state schemes.
The rollout of the new law comes amid criticism from opposition parties and rural employment activists, who have raised concerns over changes to the existing rural employment guarantee framework. They have questioned whether the new system could affect the demand-driven nature of employment, the role of states and gram panchayats, and the availability of adequate financial resources for implementation.
The government has maintained that the new framework will strengthen rural livelihood security, improve asset creation and provide a more comprehensive approach to employment generation.
The national launch of the VB-G RAM G Act will be held on July 2 at Mukkavaripalli village in Obulavaripalle mandal of Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati district, according to the ministry.
The event will include the distribution of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards and the release of awareness material related to the mission.
(With inputs from PTI)
