Viksit Bharat – Employment and Livelihood Guarantee Mission (Rural) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 to come into force across India from July 1, 2026

Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 came into force across India on 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA and expanding the statutory rural employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days.

Key Features of the Act

¨     Enhanced Employment Guarantee: Statutory wage employment increased from 100 days to 125 days for every eligible rural household. Employment must be provided within 15 days of demand, failing which workers are entitled to unemployment allowance.

¨     Wage Payment and Compensation: Wages will continue through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into bank or post office accounts. Payments must be made weekly or within 15 days after closure of the muster roll.

¨     Workers will receive delay compensation if wages are not paid on time.

¨     Unemployment Allowance: If employment is not provided within the stipulated period: Workers receive at least one-fourth of the wage rate for the first 30 days. At least one-half of the wage rate for the remaining period.

¨     National Wage Floor Introduced: A minimum wage of ₹300 per day has been notified across all States and UTs. National average wage increased to ₹327.4/day from ₹298.8/day.State-wise Wage Revision: Significant wage hikes (15–25%) in several historically low-wage States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

¨     Highest notified wage: ₹450/day in selected high-altitude Gram Panchayats of Sikkim and Haryana (₹409), Goa (₹406) and Kerala (₹401) among major States.

¨     Seamless Transition: Existing e-KYC verified job cards remain valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.Ongoing works continue without interruption.

¨     Timely Employment & Wage Payment: Employment to be provided within the prescribed period after demand. Transparent and technology-enabled wage payments. Face-recognition/mobile-based attendance continues for greater accountability.

Gram Panchayat-Centric Implementation: Greater focus on:

¨     Natural resource management

¨     Water conservation

¨     Agriculture and allied activities

¨     Rural infrastructure

¨     Women’s empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

¨     Convergence with flagship rural development programmes

Significance of the Act

¨     Strengthens rural livelihood security by increasing the statutory employment guarantee to 125 days.

¨     Raises rural incomes through higher wage rates and a nationwide minimum wage floor of ₹300 per day.

¨     Creates durable rural assets by focusing on water conservation, natural resource management, agriculture, and rural infrastructure.

¨     Promotes women-led rural development through stronger integration of Self-Help Groups and livelihood initiatives.

¨     Improves transparency and efficiency through digital governance, e-KYC, software-based monitoring, and technology-enabled implementation.

¨ Supports sustainable rural development by encouraging participatory planning and convergence with other flagship programmes.

¨  Contributes to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by fostering self-reliant, resilient, and prosperous rural communities.