President Murmu Approves VB-G Ram G Bill, Clears Way for Its Implementation

President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, marking a major shift in India's rural employment policy.

With the President's approval, the new law comes into force, replacing the long-running MGNREGA framework with a reworked statutory mission focused on livelihood security and inclusive rural growth.

A New Legal Framework for Rural Employment

The Bill, which was cleared earlier by Parliament of India, formally replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. The revamped legislation is positioned as part of the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, aiming to modernise rural employment and align it more closely with long-term development goals.

One of the most significant changes under the new law is the increase in guaranteed wage employment. The statutory entitlement has been raised from 100 days to a minimum of 125 days per rural household in a financial year, offering greater income assurance and predictability for families dependent on wage work.

Focus on Assets, Infrastructure and Climate Resilience

The Act redefines rural employment as a development-driven instrument rather than a standalone welfare measure. Wage employment will now be tied closely to the creation of durable and productive public assets. These include water conservation projects, essential rural infrastructure, livelihood-linked assets and works designed to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.

By integrating employment generation with asset creation, the legislation seeks to strengthen rural economies while improving long-term resilience at the village level.

Flexibility for States and Timely Wage Payments

To ensure farming activities are not disrupted, States have been allowed to notify an aggregated pause of up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting periods. This flexibility does not reduce the overall 125-day employment guarantee available to rural households.

The law also reinforces wage protection measures. It mandates that wages must be paid weekly or within 15 days, with compensation provisions in place if payments are delayed. These safeguards aim to address one of the long-standing concerns under the earlier framework.

Decentralised Planning and Stronger Rights for Workers

Planning under the new mission remains decentralised, with all works originating from Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans approved by Gram Sabhas. At the same time, projects will be digitally integrated with national platforms to enable convergence across schemes and prevent duplication.

The Act restores the right to demand employment as a central pillar, strengthens the unemployment allowance as a meaningful safety net and places renewed emphasis on transparency through technology-enabled monitoring and social audits. Together, these provisions are intended to lay the foundation for a more resilient, self-reliant and prosperous Rural Bharat.