Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Act 2026

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin Act 2025, known as VB-G RAM G, replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act from 1 July 2026. The new law guarantees 125 days of wage employment per household each financial year, up from the earlier 100 days, and sets a national minimum wage floor of ₹300 per day.

The Ministry of Rural Development notified the Act through Gazette notifications S.O. 2382(E) and S.O. 2383(E) dated 11 May 2026. The central allocation for FY 2026-27 stands at ₹95,692 crore, the largest budget estimate ever for a rural employment programme. Existing MGNREGA job cards with completed e-KYC remain valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued, with a transition period ending 31 December 2026.

VB-G RAM G Act 2026 - Introduction

VB-G RAM G stands for Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin. Parliament passed the Act in December 2025 and it received presidential assent on 21 December 2025. Rather than simply renaming the old scheme, the government built a law that ties rural wage employment to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision with a stronger focus on durable assets, climate resilience and livelihood infrastructure alongside wage work.

The guiding idea behind the Act is "rozgar bhi samman bhi", meaning employment along with dignity. In practice this shows up as banned contractors, mandatory worksite facilities, weekly transparency meetings and a higher administrative budget so panchayats can manage the extra workload. The Act applies across all states and Union Territories from 1 July 2026.

Every rural household with adult members willing to do unskilled manual work can now demand up to 125 days of guaranteed employment per financial year. States can notify up to 60 non-work days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons so farm labour is not pulled away when needed most. The 125-day guarantee still stands in full across the rest of the year.

All new works must fall under one of four thematic priority areas set out in Schedule I: Water Security Works, Core Rural Infrastructure, Livelihood-Related Infrastructure and Extreme Weather Mitigation. Each Gram Panchayat prepares a Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan that the Gram Sabha must approve before work starts.

Benefits

The new Act retains core protections while adding several improvements for rural workers:

125 days of guaranteed employment - A 25-day increase from the old 100-day guarantee, providing more income security during lean months between agricultural seasons.

National wage floor of ₹300 per day - No state can pay below this minimum. The national average daily wage is now ₹327.4, up from ₹298.8. Many states received increases of 15 to 25 percent. Haryana has the highest standard rate at ₹409 per day, followed by Goa at ₹406 and Kerala at ₹401. Special hill areas in Sikkim get ₹450 per day.

Weekly wage payments - Wages are paid weekly or at most within 15 days of the muster roll closing through Direct Benefit Transfer into bank or post office accounts. If payment is delayed beyond 15 days, workers are legally entitled to delay compensation of 0.05 percent per day from the 16th day.

Unemployment allowance - If work is not provided within 15 days of a valid demand, the state government owes an unemployment allowance of at least one-fourth of the notified wage rate for the first 30 days, rising to at least half the wage rate for any period beyond that.

Worksites must have basic facilities - Clean drinking water, a shaded rest area for children and a first aid box. If five or more children under five are present, one woman worker is appointed for childcare at full wage rate.

33 percent reservation for women - At least one-third of employment opportunities are reserved for women. Widows, persons with disabilities, SC and ST households and residents of less-developed panchayat areas also get priority.

Contractors completely banned - No contractors can take up VB-G RAM G works. Labour-displacing machinery is restricted wherever possible so manual labour captures the bulk of wages.

Eligibility

To be eligible for benefits you need to meet these simple requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must be a permanent resident of a rural area in India

Job Card Transition

If you already have an MGNREGA job card with completed e-KYC, it remains valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card is issued. Pending e-KYC alone cannot be used to deny work. If you do not have a job card, visit your Gram Panchayat office with Aadhaar cards and bank passbooks for all household members. Any adult member can submit the application and the panchayat will issue the new card.

Application Process

STEP 1 - Go to your local Gram Panchayat office and submit a work demand verbally or in writing using Form-6. You can also use the digital platform maintained by the Ministry.

STEP 2 - The Gram Panchayat registers your demand and must provide work within 15 days. If work is not provided, you become entitled to unemployment allowance as per the Act.

STEP 3 - When work is assigned, attend the worksite where attendance is recorded through face authentication with exception handling for technical failures. Work must be provided within 5 kilometres of your village; if further within the same block, you get an extra 10 percent of the wage rate as travel allowance.

STEP 4 - Complete the work. Wages are paid weekly or within 15 days through DBT into your Aadhaar-linked bank or post office account. Check your payment status on the official portal or through your Gram Panchayat.

Documents Required

Keep these documents ready when you apply for a job card or demand work:

• Recent photograph of the applicant
• Names, ages and genders of all household members applying
• Details of village, Gram Panchayat and block
• Proof of identity (Aadhaar card, Voter ID or Ration card)
• Bank or Post Office account details with Aadhaar linked
• Specimen signature or thumb impression

Priority Work Categories

All new works under VB-G RAM G must fall under one of four categories in Schedule I:

• Water Security Works - Irrigation structures, groundwater recharge, water body rejuvenation, watershed development, rainwater harvesting and afforestation
• Core Rural Infrastructure - Rural roads, public buildings, school infrastructure, anganwadi centres, sanitation systems, renewable energy infrastructure and housing-linked works
• Livelihood-Related Infrastructure - Rural markets, storage infrastructure, food processing units, cold storage, livestock infrastructure, fisheries infrastructure and skill development centres
• Extreme Weather Mitigation - Flood management structures, embankments, cyclone shelters, post-disaster restoration and forest fire management

Funding Pattern

The funding structure has shifted to a more clearly defined model. For most states the Centre-State split is 60:40. For North Eastern and Himalayan states it is 90:10. Union Territories without a legislature get 100 percent central funding. The administrative expense ceiling has been raised from 6 percent to 9 percent so panchayats have more room to manage the scheme.

Transparency and Monitoring

Face authentication records attendance at worksites with exception handling for network issues. Every worksite must display a Janata Board showing work description, estimated labour days, material quantities and item-wise costs. Weekly public disclosure covers muster rolls, payments and approvals in both digital and physical formats. Gram Panchayats hold weekly disclosure meetings to present this information to the community.

References

Gazette of India Notifications S.O. 2382(E) and S.O. 2383(E) | PIB India Backgrounder and FAQ dated 11 May 2026 | Ministry of Rural Development | VB-G RAM G Official Portal | MyBharat Portal

FAQ's

Has MGNREGA been replaced?

Yes. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 was repealed from 1 July 2026 under Gazette notification S.O. 2383(E). The VB-G RAM G Act 2025 is now the governing law for rural employment guarantee.

How many days of work are guaranteed now?

125 days per household per financial year, up from 100 days under MGNREGA. States can notify up to 60 non-work days during peak farming seasons.

What is the minimum wage under VB-G RAM G?

A national minimum wage floor of ₹300 per day applies everywhere. State-specific rates may be higher. The national average is ₹327.4 per day.

Is my old MGNREGA job card still valid?

Yes, if your MGNREGA job card has completed e-KYC it remains valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card is issued. The transition period ends 31 December 2026. Pending e-KYC alone cannot be used to deny work.

How do I demand work under the new Act?

You can demand work verbally at the Gram Panchayat, in writing using Form-6, or through the Ministry's digital platform. Work must be provided within 15 days.

What happens if work is not given within 15 days?

You are entitled to an unemployment allowance of at least one-fourth the notified wage rate for the first 30 days of delay, rising to at least half the wage rate after that.

How are wages paid and what if they are late?

Wages are paid weekly or within 15 days through DBT into your Aadhaar-linked bank or post office account. If delayed beyond 15 days, you get delay compensation of 0.05 percent per day from the 16th day.

What is the new official portal?

The official portal is https://vbgramg.dord.gov.in. You can also check updates on the Ministry of Rural Development website at rural.gov.in and the MyBharat portal at mybharat.gov.in.

Are contractors allowed under VB-G RAM G?

No. Contractors are completely banned from taking up VB-G RAM G works. Labour-displacing machinery is also restricted as far as possible.

What is the helpline number?

The toll-free helpline is 1800-180-1551. You can also contact your local Gram Panchayat office or state Rural Development department.