MGNREGA

States can offset lower formula-based allocations by meeting performance benchmarks under the govt's new funding framework

Today's opinions examine India's ethanol-blending policy, urban employment trends, MGNREGA reforms, energy security after the Strait of Hormuz disruptions, and Project Cheetah

The revamped rural jobs programme weakens the safety net and shifts power from states to the Centre

The Centre has notified three sets of rules under the VB-G RAM G Act, laying down the framework for the transition from MGNREGS, payment of wages and unemployment allowance, and expenditure beyond the Centre's normative allocation, government sources said. The rules, notified by the Ministry of Rural Development through separate Gazette notifications dated July 1, came into force from the date of their publication. The draft rules were issued in May and the government had invited feedback on them. The Transitional Provisions Rules provide for an orderly migration from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the new employment guarantee framework -- Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025. They require state governments to verify all liabilities under MGNREGS existing up to June 30, settle admissible dues and submit audited utilisation certificates within 180 days, extendable by another 90 days by the

The Centre has notified minimum wages under the new VB-G RAM G scheme, raising the national effective floor wage to ₹327.4 a day, while Congress called the rates inadequate

After 20 years, MGNREGA has officially been replaced by VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin). The new rural employment law promises 125 days of guaranteed work

From higher rural wages and cheaper commercial LPG to new RBI rules, EV incentives, passport fees and tax deadlines, here are the key changes taking effect from July 1

The Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 will come into force from July 1, with the Centre on Tuesday stating that all arrangements have been made for its implementation. The Ministry of Rural Development said the Act provides a statutory guarantee of up to 125 days of wage employment to eligible rural households, compared to the 100 days provided under the existing rural employment framework. The ministry said an interim allocation of Rs 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. 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 states had worked together to complete administrative, financial and technical preparations for the rollout. The government said ...

As MGNREGA comes to a close, both critics and supporters keenly eye VB G RAM G's performance

The Centre has deployed senior officials to oversee the nationwide rollout of VB G RAM G as it replaces MGNREGA from July 1

Civil society groups claim the Centre's interim allocation under the new rural jobs scheme would finance far fewer than the promised 125 days of work in several states

The interim allocation comes ahead of the formal launch of VB-G RAM G on July 1, 2026, across the country

A part of the normative allocation can also be based on fixed 'performance criteria'

Provides labour budget for 45 crore persondays of work in June 2026 ahead of rollout

The Centre on Saturday published draft rules under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VBG RAM G) for public consultation, following the notification of the law's implementation across all states and Union Territories from July 1. Framed under Section 33 and other relevant provisions of the Act, the draft rules have been placed in the public domain to facilitate wider stakeholder consultation before they are finalised. The proposed rules cover transitional provisions, the National Level Steering Committee, the Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council, administrative expenses, grievance redressal, payment of wages and unemployment allowance, and expenditure incurred in excess of normative allocations, including expenses for Union Territories without legislatures. Officials in the Ministry of Rural Development said the rules are aimed at establishing the institutional, administrative, financial, and governance framework for implementation of

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj is scheduled to hold a briefing on May 20 with representatives of the Department of Rural Development on the preparatory work undertaken for implementation of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G). According to information shared on the Parliament website, officials from the Ministry of Rural Development will brief the panel on the subject, "Preparatory work done for implementation of Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G)." The meeting comes days after the Centre announced that the VB-G RAM G Act will come into force across the country from July 1, replacing the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The government described the move as a "historic transition" in India's rural development architecture aligned with the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047". Under the new framework, every rural

The Centre has notified the VB-G RAM G Act, replacing MGNREGA from July 1, 2026, with a 125 day rural employment guarantee and expanded infrastructure creation mandate

FMCG companies expect the new rural employment framework to stabilise rural incomes and support stronger consumption growth across daily-use categories

The prime example of this is MGNREGA, which has now been replaced by the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (GRAMIN) or VB-G RaM G

Centre clarifies scheme to continue till VB-GRAMIN is rolled out