New Delhi, Dec 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has endorsed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Modi urged citizens to read an article by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, where he articulates that the Bill aims to enhance rural livelihoods through an increased employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per year for rural households. The legislation also introduces an unemployment allowance and focuses on creating durable assets, while addressing concerns regarding the dilution of demand-driven work.
Chouhan argues that the Bill’s provisions support long-term rural prosperity by aligning employment generation with asset creation. He clarifies that planning remains localized through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, ensuring that local priorities are not overlooked.
The Bill also allows states to pause work during peak agricultural seasons, and incorporates technology for transparency and accountability. Scheduled for rollout in April 2026, the VB-G RAM G is viewed as an evolution of the rural welfare framework, although critics raise concerns about funding and worker entitlements. Modi’s endorsement frames the reforms as an upgrade rather than a rollback of rural welfare initiatives.
