Parliament Question: Employment Guarantee under VB-G-RAM-G

O.I.H. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2894 ANSWERED ON 10/03/2026 EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE UNDER VB-G-RAM-G 2894. Shri Gajendra Singh Patel: Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) the objectives and key provisions of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Act, especially in the context of the transition from demand based employment to planned rural infrastructure projects related to climate adaptation and disaster mitigation; (b) the number and type of projects proposed to be launched under this Act, along with their regional and geographical coverage; (c) the estimated employment generation under the said Act and the mechanism evolved to ensure its distribution, State-wise; and (d) the details of proposed investment for the implementation of projects under the said Act, including the contribution from Union, State and other sources? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN) (a): As per the Para 3 of Schedule I of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB- G RAM G Act, 2025, the core objectives and key provisions are given below: i. The primary objective of this Act is to align the rural development framework with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by providing an enhanced statutory wage employment guarantee of one hundred and twenty-five days in each financial year to such rural households whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work, thereby enabling them to participate more effectively in the expanded livelihood security framework. Page 1 of 3ii. To focus on empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation through public works aggregating into forming Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, with a thematic focus on water security through water-related works, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure and special works to mitigate extreme weather events. iii. To facilitate adequate farm-labour availability during peak agricultural seasons, and, in view of the wage-employment guarantee for the rural workforce. iv. To institutionalise convergence, saturation-driven planning and whole of government delivery through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, integrated with the PM Gati Shakti to address the varying needs of Gram Panchayats, powered by geospatial systems, digital public infrastructure, district and State planning mechanisms, with such plans aggregated at the Block, District, State and National levels. v. To modernise governance, accountability and citizen engagement through a comprehensive digital ecosystem, including biometric authentication at various levels, global positioning system or mobile based worksite monitoring, real time management information system dashboards, proactive public disclosures and the use of Artificial Intelligence for planning, audits and fraud risk mitigation. (b): The Act makes provision for works to be identified and prioritized through participatory Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans to be prepared and approved by Gram Sabha, which are aggregated at Block, District, State and National levels. Types of works fall under four thematic domains: (i) water-related works for water security; (ii) core rural infrastructure; (iii) livelihood-related infrastructure; and (iv) special works for mitigating extreme weather events and disaster preparedness. (c): The Act guarantees one hundred and twenty-five days of wage employment per financial year to rural households. As per Sub- section (4) of Section 22 of the Act, The Central Government shall determine the State-wise normative allocation for each state based on objective parameters as may be prescribed by the Central Government. (d): As per Section 22 of the Act, the Scheme implemented under the Act shall be a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the fund-sharing pattern between the Central Government and the State Government shall be 90:10 for the North-Eastern States, Himalayan States and Union Territory (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Page 2 of 3Kashmir) and 60:40 for all other States and Union Territories with legislature. For the financial year 2026–27, a Central share provision of ₹95,692.31 crore has been made for the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), representing the largest allocation for rural employment at Budget Estimate Stage. With the inclusion of the corresponding estimated State share, the total programme outlay is likely to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore, which is expected to significantly accelerate rural transformation, large- scale employment generation and income enhancement in rural areas. ***** Page 3 of 3