VB-G RAM G Bill replaces Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act
The VB-G RAM G Bill, formally the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill 2025, has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005.
The new bill increases guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 per rural household annually, aligning with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision for rural development. It introduces a 60-day pause during peak farming seasons to prioritize agriculture and shifts to a shared funding model where states cover about 40% of costs, up from minimal shares under MGNREGA.
Introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2025, the bill passed both houses of Parliament by December 18-19, 2025, despite opposition concerns over reduced central funding and added state burdens.
VB-G RAM G emphasizes tech-driven monitoring, infrastructure-linked livelihoods, and flexibility for states during calamities, while retaining core safeguards like job cards and timely payments. Women continue to receive at least 50% of jobs, with expanded permissible works for rural assets.
