VB–G RAM G Bill 2025

Full Title: Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025
Introduced By: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Minister for Rural Development)
Introduction Date: December 16, 2025 (Lok Sabha)
Status: Introduced; seeks to repeal and replace the MGNREGA, 2005.

The Big Shift: The bill proposes to replace the 20-year-old “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act” (MGNREGA) with a new framework aligned with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
Core Philosophy: It aims to transition from a pure “safety net” model to a “Growth & Livelihood Engine” model, focusing on creating durable assets rather than just digging holes.

Days: Guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year (up from 100 days under MGNREGA).
Target: Adult members volunteering for unskilled manual work.
Job Cards:
- Validity: The new “Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card” will be valid for 3 years (unlike 5 years currently) and renewable.
- Special Cards: Distinct colored cards for vulnerable groups (Single women, PwDs, the Elderly, PVTGs, Transgender persons).

The bill shifts the financial burden significantly onto the States.

General States: 60:40 (Centre: State).
NE & Himalayan States: 90:10 (Centre: State).
Union Territories (No Legislature):100% Centre.
- Note: Under MGNREGA, the Centre paid 100% of the wages. This 60:40 split for wages is a major point of political contention.

What: States can notify a “pause” period aggregating up to 60 days in a year.
When: During peak sowing and harvesting seasons.
Why: To ensure farmers have access to adequate labour during critical agricultural periods (preventing the complaint that NREGA makes farm labour unavailable).

Wage Payment: Mandates Weekly Payments (replacing the 15-day cycle) to ensure faster liquidity for workers.
Penalty: The penalty for officials violating provisions is increased from ₹1,000 to ₹10,000.
Allocation Model: Shifts from “Labour Budget” (Demand-Driven) to “Normative Allocation” (Top-Down). The Centre will fix state budgets based on “objective parameters,” removing the open-ended funding nature of the previous act.

The bill integrates rural works with national infrastructure stacks.

Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPP): All works must originate from these plans, which will be consolidated at the Block/District levels.
National Rural Infrastructure Stack: A unified digital database of assets created, integrated with PM Gati Shakti.
Focus Areas: Water security, core rural infrastructure (roads), and livelihood assets.

Term	Definition/Implication
Normative Allocation	A funding model where the Centre decides the budget cap for a state based on formula/criteria, rather than reimbursing whatever the state spends based on demand.
Rights-Based vs. Scheme	Critics argue the “Normative Allocation” dilutes the “Right to Work” (making it supply-constrained), effectively turning a Legal Guarantee into a standard Government Scheme.
Seasonal Pause	A funding model where the Centre decides the budget cap for a state based on a formula/criteria, rather than reimbursing whatever the state spends based on demand.

Direct Fact: What is the validity period of the new “Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card” under the VB-G RAM G Bill?
- (Answer: 3 Years)
Analysis: The VB-G RAM G Bill increases the guaranteed employment days to 125 but introduces a “Seasonal Pause.” What is the maximum duration of this pause?
- (Answer: 60 Days)
Polity/Federalism: For general category states, what is the proposed Centre-State funding ratio for wages under the new bill?
- (Answer: 60:40)
Statement-Based:
- 1. The bill provides distinct job cards for Transgender persons and PVTGs. (True)
  1. The bill retains the 100% Central funding for unskilled wages. (False – shifts to shared funding).

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