The Viksit BharatโG RAM G Bill, 2025 represents a transformative shift in rural employment policy in India. This landmark legislation replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a modern, infrastructure-focused, and technology-driven framework aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. The new bill increases guaranteed work days from 100 to 125 per year, fundamentally restructures the funding pattern, and establishes direct linkages between wage work and durable rural assets while emphasizing climate resilience and agricultural productivity.
๐ What Is the Viksit BharatโG RAM G Bill?
The Viksit Bharat โ Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VBโG RAM G) Bill, 2025 creates a new legal and policy framework for rural development with a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per rural household each financial year for adults willing to undertake unskilled manual work. Unlike its predecessor MGNREGA, the VBโG RAM G Bill is designed to:
- Integrate wage employment with rural infrastructure creation across four priority sectors
- Align all productive assets with a National Rural Infrastructure Stack
- Link gram panchayat planning to national platforms like PM Gati Shakti
- Embed cutting-edge technology (AI, GPS, biometrics) for transparency and accountability
- Support the long-term national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047
๐ Why Replace MGNREGA Now?
Rural India has undergone substantial transformation since MGNREGA’s inception in 2005. Key drivers for the policy overhaul include:
- Significant poverty reduction: Rural poverty fell from approximately 27% (2011โ12) to nearly 5% in recent years
- Improved connectivity and infrastructure: Digital penetration, road networks, and village-level connectivity have improved dramatically
- Diversified livelihood opportunities: Rural populations now have access to more diverse income sources beyond agricultural wage labor
- Implementation challenges in MGNREGA: Despite transparent digital payments via Aadhaar, the old scheme faced persistent issues including ghost works, asset quality problems, and limited household completion of guaranteed 100 days
- Need for strategic alignment: The new bill aims to create durable, multipurpose rural assets that directly support agricultural productivity and climate resilience in alignment with national development priorities
โจ Key Features of the G RAM G Bill
125 Days of Guaranteed Work
Each eligible rural household receives a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment per financial year. Wages must be paid weekly or within a maximum of 15 days of work completion, ensuring rapid income access for rural workers.
60-Day No-Work Agricultural Window
States will formally declare up to 60 days annually when scheme works are paused. This mandatory pause aligns with peak sowing and harvesting seasons, ensuring that agricultural labor remains available for farmers while protecting workers’ employment guarantee during the off-season.
Four Priority Verticals & National Infrastructure Stack
All assets are integrated into a National Rural Infrastructure Stack organized around four priority sectors. Planning is anchored in Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans linked to national platforms like PM Gati Shakti.
๐ฐ Financial Architecture & Governance
The bill fundamentally restructures rural employment financing:
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Cost-sharing between Union and State governments
- 60% Centre : 40% State for most states
- 90% Centre : 10% State for North-Eastern and Himalayan states
- 100% Central Funding for Union Territories without legislatures
- Annual fund requirement: Around 1.51 lakh crore (Centre’s share: 95,692 crore)
- Admin expenditure cap raised: From 6% to 9% for strengthened capacity
๐ MGNREGA vs G RAM G: Key Differences
Here’s a comprehensive comparison of the old and new schemes:
| Feature | MGNREGA (Old) | VB-G RAM G (New) |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Work Days | 100 days per household per year | 125 days per household per year |
| Scheme Philosophy | Rights-based, demand-driven | Supply-driven, budget-capped, infrastructure-linked |
| Funding Model | Largely central funding | Centrally sponsored (60:40, 90:10, or 100%) |
| Focus of Works | Wage employment + basic assets | Employment integrated with 4 priority infrastructure verticals |
| Technology | Aadhaar-based payments, e-MIS | AI, biometrics, GPS/mobile monitoring, real-time dashboards |
| Admin Expenditure Cap | Around 6% | Raised to 9% |
| Agricultural Alignment | No formal pause period | Mandatory state-notified 60-day pause in peak seasons |
๐ Benefits for Rural India
For Rural Workers
- Higher potential earnings through 125 guaranteed days (25 days more than MGNREGA)
- Secure digital wage payments every week or within 15 days
- Mandatory unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days
- Durable assets created directly support livelihoods and agricultural productivity
- Better safety net during agricultural off-seasons
For Farmers & Rural Communities
- Assured labor availability during peak agricultural seasons due to mandatory work pause
- Focus on water-related infrastructure (tanks, wells, bunds) improves irrigation capacity
- Better rural roads reduce input and output transportation costs
- Enhanced market-linked storage and value addition infrastructure
- Climate-resilient assets support sustainable agriculture
- Reduced distress migration as local employment improves
โ ๏ธ Concerns and Implementation Challenges
- Higher State Financial Burden: The shift from largely central funding to 60:40 cost-sharing may strain state finances, particularly for fiscally weaker states
- Budget-Capped vs Rights-Based: Experts argue the supply-driven, budget-capped approach could weaken the original rights-based guarantee if implementation is poor
- Gram Panchayat Capacity: Successful implementation depends on significant strengthening of local governance institutions’ planning and financial management
- Digital Infrastructure Dependency: Heavy reliance on AI, biometrics, and mobile monitoring requires robust digital connectivity in rural areas
- Transition Management: Shifting from MGNREGA’s established systems to new technology platforms requires careful change management and staff training
๐ What This Means for Jharkhand
For Jharkhandibaba.in readers and Jharkhand state, the VB-G RAM G Bill 2025 represents a significant policy shift that will impact millions of rural households. As a state with substantial rural population and agriculture-dependent communities, Jharkhand faces both opportunities and challenges:
- Implementation Timeline: Track the state government’s adoption timeline and rollout strategy
- Gram Panchayat Planning: Monitor how local governance bodies develop Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans
- Financial Implications: Watch how the 60:40 cost-sharing affects state budget allocation for rural employment
- Worker Impact: Real outcomes will depend on how quickly systems transition from MGNREGA to the new framework
- Asset Quality: The success of durable infrastructure creation will determine long-term impact on rural productivity
Conclusion: The Viksit BharatโG RAM G Bill, 2025 marks a transformative moment in India’s rural employment policy. With higher guaranteed work days, stronger technology integration, and direct linkages to national infrastructure priorities, the new scheme aims to create sustainable rural livelihoods while supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. However, its real impact will depend on effective state-level implementation, adequate financial allocation, and careful management of the transition from MGNREGA. Rural stakeholders and policy observers should stay closely informed of implementation details as the scheme rolls out across India.
Sources: Official Press Information Bureau (PIB) announcements, Government of India Ministry of Rural Development, Viksit BharatโG RAM G Bill 2025 legislative documents, and recent news coverage. For detailed official information, refer to the PIB website and Union Budget announcements.
PIB website
External Resources & References
For authoritative information and detailed documentation on the G RAM G Bill 2025, explore these official government resources:
- Official Press Information Bureau (PIB) – Latest government announcements and policy documents
- Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) – Official ministry website with scheme details and guidelines
- PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan – Infrastructure planning platform linked to G RAM G implementation
- Official PIB Press Release on G RAM G Bill 2025 – Full policy announcement and framework
- Union Budget Portal – Budget allocations and financial details for rural schemes
- MGNREGA Official Portal – Current implementation details and worker information
Note: All external links open in new tabs. This post will be updated as more official guidelines are released.
