India, May 11 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025, is a rural employment and development legislation aimed at aligning rural development with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment to rural households and promoting the creation of productive rural assets.
The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB-G RAM G (विकसित भारत-जी राम जी) Act, 2025 shall come into force across all rural areas of the country with effect from 01/07/2026, as notified by the Central Government.
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will stand repealed with effect from 01/07/2026, as notified by the Central Government.
Yes. The Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act shall be implemented across the country from 01/07/2026, as notified by the Central Government.
The Act guarantees 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every eligible rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
Yes. State Governments are required to notify schemes consistent with the provisions of the Act within the prescribed period after commencement of the Act.
Ongoing works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA as on the date of commencement may continue as per the provisions of the VB-G RAM G Act.
These works shall be seamlessly migrated and prioritized for completion, ensuring that public assets are not left incomplete and community benefits continue.
Yes. Employment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will continue in a seamless and uninterrupted manner till the commencement of VB G RAM G.
Adequate labour budget has been made available to States and Union Territories in alignment with emerging demand patterns and field requirements to ensure uninterrupted employment opportunities and timely payment of wages.
Yes. Where ongoing works are insufficient to meet employment demand, new works from the shelf of works consistent with Schedule I of the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act may be taken up.
Yes. Every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work shall continue to receive a statutory employment guarantee. The guarantee has been enhanced from 100 days to 125 days per financial year.
Yes. Existing MGNREGA Job Cards/workers for whom e-KYC has been completed shall continue to remain valid till new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued in accordance with the provisions under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025.
Every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work shall be eligible for employment under this Act.
Any rural household not having a MGNREGA Job Card may apply for registration by submitting the names, ages and address details of the household through any adult member to the concerned Gram Panchayat for issuance of a Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card.
Adult members of rural areas may demand employment through the Gram Panchayat. Applications can be made orally, in writing through the same form 6 as before, or through digital platforms to the Gram Panchayat, Programme Officer, or any authorized person.
Employment must be provided within 15 days from the date of application.
Such workers shall be entitled to unemployment allowance.
If employment is not provided within the stipulated period as per the demand for employment, unemployment allowance shall be payable by the State Government, at not less than one-fourth of the notified wage rate for the first thirty days during the financial year and not less than one-half of the notified wage rate for the remaining period.
Yes. Enhanced Wage Rates shall be provided as per the provisions of Section 10 of the Act. Until new Wage Rates are notified under the Act, the existing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rates shall continue to apply.
Wages shall be paid weekly or in any case not later than a fortnight after closure of muster roll.
Wages are paid directly to the individual accounts of the workers in Banks or Post Offices through Direct Benefit Transfer.
If wages are not paid within fifteen days from the closure of the muster roll, wage seekers are entitled to delay compensation at a rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day of delay.
Attendance at worksites shall be captured through a face authentication-based attendance mechanism. However, an exception handling mechanism shall also be available for genuine cases such as poor or no network connectivity, technical issues, device-related problems or other exceptional circumstances, as per guidelines issued by the Government.
Yes. Worksite facilities shall be provided at the worksite. A worksite must have safe drinking water, shade for children and rest periods, and a first aid box.
To facilitate adequate labour availability during peak agricultural seasons such as sowing and harvesting periods, the State Governments shall notify a period covering peak agriculture seasons during which works under the Act shall not be undertaken.
As far as possible, employment will be provided within a radius of 5 kilometers of the applicant's village. If provided beyond that (but within the Block), workers are paid an extra 10% of the wage rate for transport and living expenses.
The District Collector or equivalent officer designated by the State Government shall function as the District Programme Coordinator (DPC).
An officer not below the rank of Block Development Officer shall be appointed as Programme Officer at block level.
Gram Panchayats shall play a central role in implementation of the Scheme, including registration of households, receiving applications for employment, execution of works, maintenance of records related to the Scheme, and preparation of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) etc.
No, contractors cannot be engaged for the execution of the works financed under this Act.
No, works shall be performed using manual labour, and no labour-displacing machines shall be used as far as practicable.
The fund sharing pattern is:
State-wise normative allocations are proposed to be determined by the Central Government based on objective parameters prescribed under the Act.
The expenditure on the material component under the Act shall not exceed 40% at the district level.
A "Janata Board" must be displayed at every worksite indicating work details, estimated labour days, material quantities, and item-wise costs.
There are weekly public disclosure systems, including digital and physical displays of key metrics, muster rolls, payments, and sanctions. Gram Panchayats shall also hold weekly disclosure meetings.
Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan is a convergence-based, future-ready local development plan prepared by Gram Panchayats through participatory and evidence-based planning aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.
The Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) is important because all works under the Act must originate from VGPPs prepared by the Gram Panchayat and approved by the Gram Sabha through a participatory approach, ensuring need-based, convergence-oriented and saturation-focused rural development planning.
The Act permits execution of works under four major thematic domains aimed at promoting sustainable and resilient rural development:
Yes. The Act promotes a "single-plan, multi-funding" approach through convergence with Central, State, and local schemes.
Yes. Housing PMAY-G works can be taken up under the Act for the provision of 90/95 person-days wage support, as per applicable guidelines.
Yes, the Central Government can make special relaxations, such as expanding permissible works, enhancing wage employment, and relaxed documentation norms upon the State Government's recommendation during natural calamities or extraordinary circumstances.
Reference
Ministry of Rural Development
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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
