Rural Economy

State aims to procure 6.5 million tonnes of paddy by February 2027, with payments to farmers promised within 48 hours

The final rules prescribe a 15-day deadline for resolving complaints but drop several accountability provisions from the May draft, raising questions about their implementation

India's poverty declines, but low wages and limited regular jobs remain key challenges

Rural women's labour force participation nearly doubled between 2017-18 and 2023-24, but the rise was driven largely by unpaid family work and agricultural employment, the study finds.

An IIM study shows monthly incomes of 'lakhpati didi' households rose by 61 per cent in the past year, says Amit Shukla, joint secretary in the rural development ministry.

Rural incomes are becoming less dependent on monsoons as allied activities, irrigation and diversification cushion the impact of rainfall shortfalls.

Household demand reaches 15.64 mn amid monsoon deficit in south, west states, up 26% from August

Tractor sales at Mahindra & Mahindra fell 21 per cent, and Escorts Kubota's declined 16.7 per cent in September, while passenger vehicle demand remained strong ahead of the festive season

Rice yields have fallen after erratic monsoon rains, while higher farm input costs threaten rural incomes and spending during the key wedding and festival season

Rural women continue to spend nearly 286 minutes per day on household chores and caregiving - almost seven times more than men

The report also finds that hired-worker enterprises are more likely to have owners with higher educational attainment and access to formal bank accounts and computers.

RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta says higher irrigation coverage, allied activities, mechanisation and better crop varieties have made the rural economy and agriculture more resilient.

Weak monsoon and delayed kharif sowing may have pushed rural women's unemployment to a one-year high in June despite higher labour force participation

Low incomes, limited economic activity and weak tax collection continue to constrain panchayats' own-source revenue, affecting their financial autonomy

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

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

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 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

India has improved access to safe drinking water, but one in four people still lack reliable supply, with rural areas and groundwater dependence a key concern

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