President Droupadi Murmu assents to VB–G RAM G bill, replacing MGNREGA

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Bill, 2025, officially replacing the nearly two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new rural employment policy.

The new law enhances the statutory wage employment guarantee for rural households from 100 days to 125 days per financial year, strengthening livelihood security and income stability. The Act aims to promote empowerment, inclusive growth, convergence of development initiatives and saturation-based delivery, in line with the government’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

Features of the VB—G RAM G Act

According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the VB—G RAM G Act transforms rural employment from a standalone welfare scheme into an integrated development instrument. It focuses on creating durable and productive rural assets while modernising governance and accountability mechanisms.

Under the Act, states are allowed to notify an aggregated pause period of up to 60 days in a financial year to ensure adequate agricultural labour availability during peak sowing and harvesting seasons. The law also mandates weekly wage payments or payment within 15 days of work completion, failing which delay compensation must be paid.

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Importantly, the Act restores unemployment allowance as a statutory safeguard if employment is not provided within the stipulated period, reinforcing income security for rural households.

The government said the legislation lays the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous rural India.