Parliament Question: Revision of Rural Development Policy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1559 ANSWERED ON 28/07/2026 REVISION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY 1559. Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal: Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has formulated or revised any Rural Development Policy for strengthening rural infrastructure, employment generation and poverty alleviation in the country, State-wise including Bihar; (b) if so, the details thereof including the key objectives, components and financial allocation made under such policy/programmes during the last three years and the current year, year-wise; (c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of current rural development schemes and policies being implemented in Bihar on improving rural livelihoods, infrastructure and basic amenities, if so, the details thereof, district-wise; (d) the total number of beneficiaries covered and the major challenges identified along with corrective measures taken by the Government; and (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce any new initiatives or strengthen existing rural development policies for accelerating rural growth in Bihar and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN) (a) & (b): With a view to strengthen its multipronged strategy in addressing the rural poverty through a defined roadmap for comprehensive development of rural infrastructure and employment generation, the Government has introduced The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025 with effect from 1st July, 2026 in rural areas of the entire country including Bihar. Out of the budget allocation (BE 2026-27) of Rs.95,692 crore under VB- G RAM G, Rs.6,715 crore has been Page 1 of 4earmarked for the State of Bihar. The key objectives of the VB- G RAM G Act, 2025 are given at Annexure. In addition, the year-wise details of achievements under major rural programmes in the State of Bihar during last 3 years are given below: Programme/Scheme 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 VB-GRAMG/MGNREGS 22,05,05,692 24,97,78,899 22,32,25,158 ( Persondays generated) PMAY-G (Houses completed) 65,377 79,498 2,63,151 PMGSY (Road length 2,235 1,646 749 completed in Km) DAY-NRLM (SHGs Mobilized) 4,76,446 7,30,239 7,30,239 Source: DoRD Dashboard/as on 24.07.2026 (c) to (e) : The Government periodically reviews the implementation and outcomes of its key rural development programmes to ensure enhanced livelihood opportunities, improved rural infrastructure, and socio-economic stability, including in Bihar. To address the challenges of over-dependence on agriculture, rural youth migration and livelihood instability, the Government has taken a multi-pronged approach under various flagship rural development schemes, ensuring both livelihood diversification and enhanced social security for rural households. Besides, Ministry of Rural Development has evolved a comprehensive multi-level and multi-format system of monitoring and evaluation of rural development schemes, including Performance Review Committee Meetings, National Level Monitors (NLMs), Area Officers Schemes, Common Review Mission, Concurrent Evaluation and Impact Assessment Studies. State specific reviews of States/UTs are also undertaken from time to time and action is taken on the basis of their findings to address the challenges. In order to improve and strengthen the outcomes of the programmes besides ensuring effective monitoring including timely fund disbursal, measures such as digital solutions, regular coordination with State Governments, grievance redressal mechanism, provision for social audit, publishing real time information on public domain, etc. are adopted. Apart from the above, there is no proposal to introduce any other new initiative specifically for Bihar. Page 2 of 4Programme-wise total number of persons directly benefitted from major beneficiary oriented rural programmes are given below: Programme/Scheme No. of beneficiaries (approximate) MGNREGS/VB-G RAM G 10.85 crore PMAY-G 3.91 crore NSAP 3.09 crore DAY-NRLM 10.05 crore DDU-GKY 17.71 lakh RSETI 56.69 lakh Source: DoRD Dashboard/as on 24.07.2026 ***** Page 3 of 4Annexure Annexure referred to in parts (a) & (b) of the reply to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Q.No. 1559 regarding “Revision of Rural Development Policy” to be answered on 28.07.2026. 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. ii. 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 institutionalize 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. ***** Page 4 of 4