**Executive Summary**
The Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025, replaces the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA effective July 1, 2026, to provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment per rural household. The legislation aims to align rural development with the "Viksit Bharat @2047" vision by creating productive assets and modernizing administrative processes. Key deadlines include the mandatory transition of all ongoing works and the notification of state-specific schemes by the commencement date.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Transition and Commencement**
* **Repeal of MGNREGA:** The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will be repealed on July 1, 2026, the same day the VB-G RAM G Act comes into force nationwide.
* **Work Migration:** Ongoing MGNREGA projects will be seamlessly migrated to the new Act and prioritized for completion.
* **Job Card Validity:** Existing MGNREGA Job Cards remain valid for workers with completed e-KYC until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
**Employment and Compensation Rules**
* **Enhanced Guarantee:** The statutory employment guarantee is increased from 100 days to 125 days per financial year.
* **Timeline for Work:** Employment must be provided within 15 days of application; failure to do so entitles the worker to an unemployment allowance.
* **Wage Payments:** Wages are paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) weekly or at most fortnightly. Delay in payment beyond 15 days of muster roll closure requires compensation at 0.05% per day.
* **Worksite Proximity:** Employment is ideally provided within a 5km radius; work provided beyond this distance (within the Block) earns an additional 10% wage rate for travel and living expenses.
**Operational Restrictions and Transparency**
* **Prohibited Entities:** The use of contractors and labor-displacing heavy machinery is strictly prohibited to prioritize manual labor.
* **Attendance Tracking:** A face authentication-based mechanism will be used for attendance, with exceptions allowed for poor connectivity or technical issues.
* **Financial Caps:** Material expenditure is capped at 40% at the district level.
* **Public Disclosure:** Transparency is maintained via "Janata Boards" at worksites and weekly public disclosure meetings at the Gram Panchayat level.
**Planning and Development**
* **Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP):** All works must originate from a VGPP, which is a participatory, evidence-based local development plan.
* **Thematic Domains:** Permitted works are restricted to water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and extreme weather mitigation.
* **Agricultural Seasons:** State Governments must notify periods during peak sowing/harvesting when works under the Act will be suspended to ensure agricultural labor availability.
**Impact Analysis**
**Rural Households and Workers**
**Impact**
Workers receive an additional 25 days of guaranteed employment and improved worksite facilities (water, shade, first aid). They are subject to modernized attendance systems and enhanced transparency regarding payments and work details.
**Action Required**
Complete e-KYC for existing cards; apply for new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards via Gram Panchayats; submit oral, written, or digital applications for work.
**Gram Panchayats**
**Impact**
Gram Panchayats act as the central implementation agency with increased responsibility for planning, registration, and weekly public disclosures.
**Action Required**
Prepare Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPP); manage the registration of households and issuance of guarantee cards; hold weekly disclosure meetings.
**State Governments**
**Impact**
States must bear a portion of the funding (10% for North Eastern/Himalayan states, 40% for others) and are liable for unemployment allowances if work is not provided.
**Action Required**
Notify schemes consistent with the Act; notify peak agricultural seasons; designate District Programme Coordinators (District Collectors) and Block Programme Officers.
**Central Government**
**Impact**
The Centre provides 100% funding for UTs without legislatures and majority funding for states, while overseeing the national transition and wage rate notifications.
**Action Required**
Notify new wage rates under Section 10; determine state-wise normative allocations based on objective parameters.
Key Entities Referenced
Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025: The primary legislation providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of unskilled wage employment per financial year to eligible rural households.
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA: The existing rural employment act that is repealed and replaced by the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act effective July 2026.
Ministry of Rural Development: The primary nodal ministry responsible for the administration, oversight, and implementation guidelines of the Act.
Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP): A participatory local development plan prepared by Gram Panchayats where all rural works under the Act must originate.
Viksit Bharat @2047: The national vision document and policy framework to which the rural development and employment goals of the Act are aligned.
PIB Backgrounder
Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025
“Frequently Asked Questions”
Posted On: 11 MAY 2026 12:19PM by PIB Delhi
1. What is the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025?
The Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025, is a rural employment and development legislation aimed at
aligning rural development with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by providing a statutory guarantee of
125 days of unskilled wage employment to rural households and promoting the creation of productive
rural assets.
2. When will the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act come into force?
The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB–G RAM G (वकसत
भारत— (Act, 2025 shall come into force across all rural areas of the country with effect from
जी राम जी
01/07/2026, as notified by the Central Government.
3. When will Mahatma Gandhi NREGA be repealed?
Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will stand repealed with effect from 01/07/2026, as notified by the Central
Government.
4. Will the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act be implemented simultaneously across all States?
Yes. The Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act shall be implemented across the country from 01/07/2026, as
notified by the Central Government.
5. How many days of employment are guaranteed under the Act?
The Act guarantees 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every eligible rural household
whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
6. Are State Governments required to frame schemes under the Act?
Yes. State Governments are required to notify schemes consistent with the provisions of the Act within the
prescribed period after commencement of the Act.
7. What happens to ongoing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works after repeal?
Ongoing works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA as on the date of commencement may continue as per the
provisions of the VB–G RAM G Act.
These works shall be seamlessly migrated and prioritized for completion, ensuring that public assets are
not left incomplete and community benefits continue.
8. Will employment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA continue during the transition to the
Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act?Yes. Employment under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will continue in a seamless and uninterrupted manner
till the commencement of VB G RAM G.
9. What steps have been taken to ensure uninterrupted employment availability before
commencement?
Adequate labour budget has been made available to States and Union Territories in alignment with
emerging demand patterns and field requirements to ensure uninterrupted employment opportunities and
timely payment of wages.
10. Can new works be opened during transition?
Yes. Where ongoing works are insufficient to meet employment demand, new works from the shelf of
works consistent with Schedule I of the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act may be taken up.
11. Will workers continue to get employment guarantee under the new Act?
Yes. Every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work shall
continue to receive a statutory employment guarantee. The guarantee has been enhanced from 100 days to
125 days per financial year.
12. Will existing Job Cards/ workers remain valid?
Yes. Existing MGNREGA Job Cards/workers for whom e-KYC has been completed shall continue to
remain valid till new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued in accordance with the provisions under
the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025.
13. Who is eligible for employment under this Act?
Every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work shall be
eligible for employment under this Act.
14. How does a household register for Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card?
Any rural household not having a MGNREGA Job Card may apply for registration by submitting the
names, ages and address details of the household through any adult member to the concerned Gram
Panchayat for issuance of a Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card.
15. How can a household seek employment?
Adult members of rural areas may demand employment through the Gram Panchayat. Applications can be
made orally, in writing through the same form 6 as before, or through digital platforms to the Gram
Panchayat, Programme Officer, or any authorized person.
16. Within how many days must employment be provided?
Employment must be provided within 15 days from the date of application.
17. What happens if employment is not provided within 15 days?
Such workers shall be entitled to unemployment allowance.
18. What unemployment allowance is payable if employment is not provided?
If employment is not provided within the stipulated period as per the demand for employment,
unemployment allowance shall be payable by the State Government, at not less than one-fourth of the
notified wage rate for the first thirty days during the financial year and not less than one-half of the
notified wage rate for the remaining period.
19. Will enhanced Wage Rates be given under the Viksit Bharat- G RAM G Scheme?Yes. Enhanced Wage Rates shall be provided as per the provisions of Section 10 of the Act. Until new
Wage Rates are notified under the Act, the existing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rates shall continue to
apply.
20. How frequently will wages be paid?
Wages shall be paid weekly or in any case not later than a fortnight after closure of muster roll.
21. How are wages paid?
Wages are paid directly to the individual accounts of the workers in Banks or Post Offices through Direct
Benefit Transfer.
22. What happens if wage payment is delayed?
If wages are not paid within fifteen days from the closure of the muster roll, wage seekers are entitled to
delay compensation at a rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day of delay.
23. How will attendance be captured under the new Act?
Attendance at worksites shall be captured through a face authentication-based attendance mechanism.
However, an exception handling mechanism shall also be available for genuine cases such as poor or no
network connectivity, technical issues, device-related problems or other exceptional circumstances, as per
guidelines issued by the Government.
24. Will workers receive Worksite facilities?
Yes. Worksite facilities shall be provided at the worksite. A worksite must have safe drinking water, shade
for children and rest periods, and a first aid box.
25. Can work continue during peak agricultural seasons?
To facilitate adequate labour availability during peak agricultural seasons such as sowing and harvesting
periods, the State Governments shall notify a period covering peak agriculture seasons during which
works under the Act shall not be undertaken.
26. What if the work is further than five kilometers?
As far as possible, employment will be provided within a radius of 5 kilometers of the applicant's village.
If provided beyond that (but within the Block), workers are paid an extra 10% of the wage rate for
transport and living expenses.
27. Who will implement the Scheme at district level?
The District Collector or equivalent officer designated by the State Government shall function as the
District Programme Coordinator (DPC).
28. Who will function as Programme Officer?
An officer not below the rank of Block Development Officer shall be appointed as Programme Officer at
block level.
29. What is the role of Gram Panchayats?
Gram Panchayats shall play a central role in implementation of the Scheme, including registration of
households, receiving applications for employment, execution of works, maintenance of records related to
the Scheme, and preparation of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) etc.
30. Will contractors be allowed?
No, contractors cannot be engaged for the execution of the works financed under this Act.31. Can heavy machinery be used?
No, works shall be performed using manual labour, and no labour-displacing machines shall be used as far
as practicable.
32. What is the fund sharing pattern under the Act?
The fund sharing pattern is:
90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan States,
60:40 for other States/UTs with legislature,
100% Central funding for UTs without legislature.
33. How are State-wise allocations determined under the Act?
State-wise normative allocations are proposed to be determined by the Central Government based on
objective parameters prescribed under the Act.
34. What percentage of material expenditure has been allowed?
The expenditure on the material component under the Act shall not exceed 40% at the district level.
35. How is transparency ensured at the worksite?
A "Janata Board" must be displayed at every worksite indicating work details, estimated labour days,
material quantities, and item-wise costs.
36. How is the public informed about the progress of the Scheme?
There are weekly public disclosure systems, including digital and physical displays of key metrics, muster
rolls, payments, and sanctions. Gram Panchayats shall also hold weekly disclosure meetings.
37. What is a Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP)?
Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan is a convergence-based, future-ready local development plan prepared by
Gram Panchayats through participatory and evidence-based planning aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.
38. Why is VGPP important?
The Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) is important because all works under the Act must originate
from VGPPs prepared by the Gram Panchayat and approved by the Gram Sabha through a participatory
approach, ensuring need-based, convergence-oriented and saturation-focused rural development planning.
39. What types of works are permitted under the Act?
The Act permits execution of works under four major thematic domains aimed at promoting sustainable
and resilient rural development:
Water Security Works
Core Rural Infrastructure
Livelihood-related Infrastructure
Extreme Weather Mitigation Works
40. Can convergence with other schemes be undertaken?
Yes. The Act promotes a “single-plan, multi-funding” approach through convergence with Central, State,
and local schemes.
41. Can PMAY-G works be taken up for 90/95 person-days wage support?
Yes. Housing PMAY-G works can be taken up under the Act for the provision of 90/95 person-days wage
support, as per applicable guidelines.42. Are there relaxations during natural calamities?
Yes, the Central Government can make special relaxations, such as expanding permissible works,
enhancing wage employment, and relaxed documentation norms upon the State Government's
recommendation during natural calamities or extraordinary circumstances.
Reference
Ministry of Rural Development
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