President Murmu assents VB-G RAM G Bill, replacing MGNREGA

President Droupadi Murmu has officially given her assent to the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025. This landmark move marks the end of the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), replacing it with a modernized statutory framework. The new law is specifically designed to align India's rural labor market with the government’s broader "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision, focusing on sustainable livelihoods.

One of the most significant benefits for rural households under this new legislation is the increase in guaranteed work days. The statutory limit has been raised from 100 days to 125 days per financial year. Government officials noted that the previous 100-day cap often functioned as a restrictive ceiling; by raising it to 125 days, the new mission aims to provide a more robust safety net and higher annual income for rural workers across the country.

Beyond the increase in work days, the VB-G RAM G framework introduces a fundamental shift in how the program is financed. Under the old MGNREGA system, the central government fully funded the wage component. However, the new mission mandates a shared financing model between the Centre and the States. This transition is intended to increase state-level accountability and ensure that the assets created during the employment period are of higher quality and local relevance.