New Delhi, 11 May (H.S.): The Central government has notified the “Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Employment and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)”, commonly referred to as the Viksit Bharat (VB)–G Ram JG Act, 2025, as the new framework to revamp rural development and employment. The law will come into force across rural India from 1 July 2026 and effectively replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005.

Under the new Act, every rural household whose adult members are willing to undertake unskilled manual work will be guaranteed at least 125 days of statutory employment per financial year, an increase from the earlier 100‑day entitlement under MGNREGA.

The Ministry of Rural Development has described the measure as a major step towards making rural development more integrated, productive and future‑oriented in line with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The law mandates that jobs must be provided within a stipulated time frame to workers who demand employment. If work is not made available within this period, eligible labourers will be entitled to an unemployment allowance.

The government has also tightened wage‑payment norms to ensure greater transparency and timeliness. Wages will be credited directly to bank or post office accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). If payments are not completed within 15 days of closing the muster roll, workers will receive a delay compensation in addition to their regular wages.

For the financial year 2026–27, the Centre has allocated ₹95,692.31 crore for the scheme, the highest initial allocation so far for rural employment programmes. Together with state contributions, total spending is projected to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore.

The government has stressed that the transition from MGNREGA to the new system will be seamless. All works ongoing under MGNREGA until 30 June 2026 will continue to be completed under the old Act and later subsumed under the new legal framework.

Existing e‑KYC‑verified MGNREGA job cards will remain valid until new Rural Employment and Livelihood Guarantee Cards are issued under the new scheme. The government has also clarified that no worker will be denied employment merely on the ground that e‑KYC verification is still pending.

Draft rules for effective implementation—including those related to complaint redressal, wage payments, administrative expenses and transitional provisions—are being prepared in consultation with states and Union Territories.

The Centre says the VB–G Ram JG Act will not only boost rural job creation and infrastructure development, but also strengthen self‑reliance in villages and position gram panchayats as the central pillar of rural transformation. By expanding the guaranteed workdays and tightening delivery mechanisms, the government aims to lay a more robust foundation for Viksit Bharat @2047 through empowered, better‑connected rural communities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar