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The prime example of this is MGNREGA, which has now been replaced by the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (GRAMIN) or VB-G RaM G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
The drop in work demand in April, the first month of the financial year, is rather unusual as April usually sees good demand as panchayats are flush with funds
The government has reviewed preparedness of rural welfare and infrastructure programmes in view of the potential impact of the West Asia sitution on supply chains and prices, and said that MGNREGA rural employment scheme will continue uninterrupted with Rs 17,744 crore being released towards wage payments. In an official statement, the Ministry of Rural Development said it is closely monitoring developments that may have indirect implications for rural livelihoods, housing construction, road development and watershed activities, while ensuring continuity of benefits, timely fund flow and smooth execution of schemes. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) will remain fully operational till the proposed VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, comes into force, with no disruption in wage employment, it said. All statutory entitlements, including demand-based work and timely wage payments, will continue without dilution and existing wage rates will remain applicable. The
In FY25, around 57.8 million households got work under the scheme
Chouhan also said that the Opposition's protest against VB G RAM G has failed to garner any public support because the country has accepted it as a better scheme than its previous version (MGNREGA)
The Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Centre to immediately repeal VB-G RAM G and reinstate MGNREGA amid walkout by the opposition BJP and its ally JD(S). The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, which was accepted by the House today. Opposition Leader R Ashoka said the party opposes the resolution moved by the ruling Congress and supports the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G). He also reiterated his party's demand that Excise Minister R B Timmapur should resign as there was a large scale corruption to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore in the Excise Department. The BJP leader on Tuesday alleged that the scam money was used for funding Congress in the poll-bound states. The BJP had on Tuesday staged an overnight agitation inside the Karnataka Assembly, which continued throughout Wednesday. The party raised slogans in the Assembly disrupting the proceedings demanding Timmapur's ...
VB G RAM G gets Rs 95,692 crore in Fy-27; MGNREGA Rs 30,000 to clear pending dues and smoothen transition
New Act to be notified from April 1, giving states six months to transition and notify it individually
The Union government is continuously attacking the poor and undermining their statutory right to employment, the Congress' Delhi unit said Friday at a protest against the removal of the MGNREGA scheme. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who attended the "MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Yatra" event, said the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) gave legal right to employment benefiting lakhs of families but the the Centre was "eroding" these provisions. The VB-G RAM G scheme dilutes the the UPA-era MGNREGA's original spirit, he said. Addressing the protest at AICC office, Akbar Road, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Dharmendra Yadav said the government's actions signalled a "continuous attack on the poor." The Congress has launched a 45-day nationwide "MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Yatra" campaign, demanding the repeal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of the original MGNREGA. "This government is continuously attacking the poor. People who w
Reassessment needed in light of evolving rural realities; MGNREGS structural weakness limited its effectiveness, says Survey
President Droupadi Murmu's reference to the VB-G RAM G Act in her address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on Wednesday sparked protests from opposition parties which raised slogans demanding a roll back of the law. In her address, the President said the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, and would also stop corruption and leakages. She also asserted that it would provide a new impetus to rural development. While the President's mention of the VB-G RAM G Act was welcomed by treasury benches by thumping of desks, Opposition members raised slogans demanding roll back of the law. President Murmu paused during her address as the opposition raised slogans like "vapas lo" (roll back the Act). The Act is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Opposition parties are demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNRE
The Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday adopted a resolution urging the Centre to continue with the MGNREGA to protect the livelihoods of the rural population in the state. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin. Referring to the latest rural employment scheme Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) introduced by the Centre, Stalin said, "the proposed new scheme replaces the MGNREGA and is designed in a manner that undermines the livelihoods of rural people across India, the financial structure of the states, the self-reliance of the local bodies and employment opportunities for the rural women." Stalin noted that the all initiatives whether it is an infrastructure project or a scheme to uplift the livelihoods of the people, all the programmes were implemented efficiently without discrimination in Tamil Nadu. "In several Union government projects, Tamil Nadu ranks first in India and continues to receive appreciation from various ...
Rahul Gandhi says repeal of MGNREGA mirrors farm laws push, warns Centre wants control over work and funds under VB-G RAM G Act; Congress vows to raise issue in upcoming Budget session
States will get a six-month transition window to notify and align with the new scheme once the Act is formally notified by the Centre
As the Centre pushes VB-G RAM G to replace MGNREGA, the BJP and Congress lock horns over federalism, funding burdens and the future of rural jobs
The Congress on Saturday launched its 45-day nationwide campaign -- MGNREGA Bachao Sangram -- against the repeal of the UPA-era rural employment law by holding press conferences at every district. The opposition party's agitation demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work, and the authority of panchayats, will continue till February 25. Press conferences were held at all district headquarters on Saturday, highlighting the manner in which MGNREGA was repealed and replaced by the VB-G RAM G Act in the Winter Session of Parliament. This will be followed by a day-long fast and symbolic protests at the district headquarters on January 11. "Today, the Indian National Congress is launching the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram with a press conference at each of the District Congress Committee offices across the country. "The Congress is committed to seeing this struggle through until we secure the restorati
The Congress will launch its Save MGNREGA Movement' in Assam on Saturday as part of a nationwide agitation against the VB-G RAM G Act, the new rural employment scheme, a party leader said. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Assam Manoj Chauhan said the party will continue its agitation until the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission Gramin Act (VBG RAM G), which has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), is withdrawn. "The new Act has effectively removed the guaranteed employment that workers earlier enjoyed under MGNREGA and is an attempt to snatch away several constitutional rights. In this context, the Congress has intensified its agitation against the move across the country," Chauhan said here on Thursday. As part of the nationwide protest, the Save MGNREGA Movement' will be launched in Assam from January 10 with press conferences at district headquarters, he said. "District Congress ...