The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, or VB-G RAM G Act, came into force across rural India on 1 July 2026. It replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), which had provided a statutory guarantee of wage employment in rural areas.

📜 Statutory Wage Employment Guarantee

The VB-G RAM G Act strengthens the rural employment guarantee framework under a central law passed by Parliament.

  • Raises guaranteed wage employment for eligible rural households from 100 days to 125 days in a financial year.
  • Continues the legal framework of rural employment guarantee.
  • Replaces MGNREGA (2005), which guaranteed 100 days of wage employment.

💰 Wage Rates & Funding Pattern

The Ministry of Rural Development notified revised wage rates on 30 June 2026.

  • National average daily wage rose from ₹298.8 (MGNREGA) to ₹327.4 (VB-G RAM G), an average rise of ₹28.6/day.
  • An interim wage floor of ₹300 per day applies from 1 July 2026; no notified wage can fall below this.
  • Interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore for transition support and wage payments.
  • Funding pattern: 60:40 (Centre:States) for most states.
  • North-Eastern and Himalayan states get 90:10 support.

🪪 Implementation, Job Cards & Transition

The transition to the new system is being carried out in phases while protecting existing beneficiaries.

  • Existing e-KYC-verified MGNREGA job cards remain valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
  • Data transfer expected to take six months, until 31 December 2026.
  • About two dozen states/UTs had issued required notifications by 30 June 2026.
  • 29 states/UTs had made budgetary provisions.

📌 Key Points (Important Facts for Exams)

  • The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 came into force on 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA.
  • It raises the guarantee from 100 days to 125 days of wage employment.
  • National average daily wage rose to ₹327.4, with a ₹300/day interim wage floor.
  • MGNREGA was enacted in 2005 guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment.
  • Funding is 60:40 (Centre:States); 90:10 for NE and Himalayan states.
  • e-KYC-verified job cards stay valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.

🎯 Conclusion

The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 marks a major reform of India's rural employment guarantee, expanding the wage-employment guarantee and revising wage rates while ensuring a smooth transition from MGNREGA. This is an important Government Schemes and Indian Economy current affairs topic for SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC and state-level examinations.

📝 Practice MCQs

Q1. Which Act came into force on 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA?

a) PM Rozgar Yojana Act
b) VB-G RAM G Act, 2025
c) Rural Livelihood Act, 2024
d) National Employment Act, 2026
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (b) VB-G RAM G Act, 2025

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 replaced MGNREGA.

Q2. What does the VB-G RAM G Act guarantee in terms of wage employment days?

a) 100 days
b) 110 days
c) 125 days
d) 150 days
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (c) 125 days

It raises the guarantee from 100 days to 125 days per financial year.

Q3. MGNREGA, which was replaced, was enacted in which year?

a) 2000
b) 2005
c) 2010
d) 2015
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (b) 2005

MGNREGA was enacted in 2005 guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment.

Q4. What is the interim wage floor per day under the new Act from 1 July 2026?

a) ₹250
b) ₹298.8
c) ₹300
d) ₹327.4
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (c) ₹300

An interim wage floor of ₹300 per day applies; no notified wage can fall below it.

Q5. The national average daily wage under VB-G RAM G was notified as?

a) ₹298.8
b) ₹300
c) ₹327.4
d) ₹350
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (c) ₹327.4

The average daily wage rose from ₹298.8 to ₹327.4.

Q6. What is the Centre-State funding ratio for most states under the new Act?

a) 50:50
b) 60:40
c) 75:25
d) 90:10
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (b) 60:40

Most states follow a 60:40 Centre-State funding pattern.

Q7. North-Eastern and Himalayan states receive which funding ratio?

a) 60:40
b) 70:30
c) 80:20
d) 90:10
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (d) 90:10

NE and Himalayan states receive 90:10 Centre-State support.

Q8. Existing MGNREGA job cards remain valid until what is issued?

a) Aadhaar cards
b) Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards
c) Ration cards
d) Voter ID cards
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (b) Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards

e-KYC-verified job cards stay valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.

Q9. Until which date is the data transfer to the new system expected to continue?

a) 31 October 2026
b) 31 December 2026
c) 31 March 2027
d) 30 June 2027
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (b) 31 December 2026

Data transfer is expected to take six months, until 31 December 2026.

Q10. Which ministry notified the revised wage rates on 30 June 2026?

a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Rural Development
c) Ministry of Labour
d) Ministry of Agriculture
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼

✔ Correct Answer: (b) Ministry of Rural Development

The Ministry of Rural Development notified the revised wage rates.

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