PM Modi Hails VB-G RAM G Bill As Key Reform For Rural Employment

PM Narendra Modi endorsed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In a post on X, the PMO India shared and endorsed an article written by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, published in a leading daily.

“The ‘Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)’ bill, i.e., VB-GRAM JI Bill, passed by Parliament, will play a crucial role in making villages the engines of development after it becomes law. Union Minister Shri @ChouhanShivraj ji explains in this article how this scheme will eliminate corruption and empower rural India,” the post read.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan explained that the Bill preserves the demand-driven nature of employment, mandating at least 125 days of work per household. He highlighted that employment generation and asset creation complement each other to foster long-term rural prosperity.

Chouhan clarified that planning remains anchored in village-level ‘Viksit Gram Panchayat’ Plans approved by gram sabhas, while a national infrastructure stack ensures coordination without overriding local priorities.

Key Features, Implementation Timeline and Political Debate Surrounding the VB-G RAM G Bill

Parliament approved the VB-G RAM G Bill earlier this week amid debates and Opposition protests. It raises the statutory guarantee of wage employment from 100 to 125 days per rural household annually.

The legislation introduces an unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days, removes certain disentitlement provisions from MGNREGA, and prioritises durable asset creation in water security, rural infrastructure, and climate resilience.

The Bill permits states to pause work for up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons to prevent labour shortages, with district-level flexibility. It integrates technology, including biometric authentication and real-time monitoring, to promote transparency, supported by social audits and grievance redress mechanisms.

The government intends to roll out VB-G RAM G from April 2026.

Prime Minister Modi regards the Bill as a modern evolution of India’s rural employment framework, aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, promoting enforceable rights, accountability, and sustainable development.

Critics continue to question funding patterns and potential impacts on worker entitlements, yet PM Modi’s endorsement frames the reform as an upgrade, not a rollback, of India’s flagship rural welfare programme.

This announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to modernising rural livelihoods, balancing employment guarantees with asset creation, and strengthening India’s rural development initiatives.

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