Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025 — the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 — is the new law that replaces MGNREGA. The President of India gave assent to the Act in December 2025, and the new mission is running on the ground from 1 July 2026. This page explains what the Act actually says, what changed from MGNREGA, and what is happening now.
Key Facts
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 |
| Replaces | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) |
| Employment guarantee | 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year (up from 100 days) |
| Who is covered | Rural households whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work |
| Wage payment | Weekly, or in any case not later than a fortnight after the work was done |
| If work is not provided | Unemployment allowance is payable, as under MGNREGA |
| Funding | Centrally sponsored; Centre:State 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states, 100% central for Union Territories without legislatures |
| Estimated annual cost | Rs.1,51,282 crore (wage, material and administrative components), of which the Centre’s share is Rs.95,692.31 crore |
| Administrative expenditure ceiling | Raised from 6% to 9% |
| Official portal | vbgramg.dord.gov.in |
Source: Press Information Bureau backgrounder, 22 December 2025, and the Ministry of Rural Development’s VB–G RAM G portal.
What Changed from MGNREGA
| Feature | MGNREGA | VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed days | 100 days per rural household per year | 125 days per rural household per year |
| Works | Many scattered categories of work | Four priority areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, climate resilience |
| Funding | Centre bore unskilled wage costs; states bore unemployment allowance | Centrally sponsored; states share costs — 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states |
| Farm-season pause | No statutory pause window | States can notify up to 60 days in a financial year when work will not be executed |
| Funding pattern | Demand-based | Normative allocation fixed by the Centre for each state every year |
| Planning | Gram Panchayat plans | Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans linked with national spatial platforms |
| Monitoring | MIS and social audits | AI-based monitoring, real-time dashboards, biometric authentication, mobile-based monitoring, mandatory social audits |
The 60-Day Farm-Season Pause, Explained
States can notify up to 60 days in a financial year when VB–G RAM G work will not be executed, so that agricultural labour is available during peak sowing and harvesting. Workers still get their full 125 guaranteed days within the remaining 305 days. The pause is meant to help farmers and labourers at the same time — it is not a cut in the guarantee.
Four Priority Areas of Work
- Water security: canals, check dams, rejuvenation of ponds, afforestation.
- Core rural infrastructure: rural roads, Panchayat Bhawans, Anganwadi centres, solid waste management assets.
- Livelihood infrastructure: assets that directly support rural livelihoods.
- Climate resilience: works that help villages adapt to climate-related challenges, including soil conservation.
What Is Happening on the Ground Now
The new mission is live. The official VB–G RAM G portal (vbgramg.dord.gov.in) counts work from 1 July 2026: as of late October 2026 it showed 10.99 crore active workers, 228.12 lakh households benefitted, 4,804.24 lakh person-days generated and 61.56% women’s participation in 2026-27. The wage rate notification for FY 2026-27 has been issued on the portal.
That is the national picture. State-wise figures for Andhra Pradesh — how many days have actually been provided in AP, and the AP wage rate — were not verified for this page. Check the portal’s MIS reports for the AP figures, and demand work through your Gram Panchayat as before. The old nrega.nic.in portal is no longer the place to check work and wages; the VB–G RAM G portal is.
How to Demand Work
- Apply for work at your Gram Panchayat, as under MGNREGA. Adult members of a rural household can volunteer for unskilled manual work.
- Work must be provided within the guarantee period; if it is not, unemployment allowance is payable.
- Wages are paid by direct bank transfer, weekly or within a fortnight of the work done.
- Check your work and payment status on vbgramg.dord.gov.in or at the Gram Panchayat. If your old job card details do not show up, raise it at the Gram Panchayat.
Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025: The 125-Day Guarantee — What It Means for a Rural Household
Under Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025, every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work is guaranteed 125 days of wage employment in a financial year. That is 25 days more than the 100 days MGNREGA guaranteed. The guarantee is per household, not per person, and it is for unskilled manual work on the projects the Gram Panchayat plans. If work is not provided within the guarantee period, an unemployment allowance is payable, as under MGNREGA. Rural households also get farm income support through Annadata Sukhibhava — read about it at https://unqinformation.com/annadatha-sukheebhava-scheme-2025/
Wages are paid weekly, or in any case not later than a fortnight after the work was done. The payment comes by direct bank transfer, so the wages go to the worker’s bank account. The wage rate for FY 2026-27 has been notified on the official portal at https://vbgramg.dord.gov.in — check the portal for the rate that applies to your state, because the rate is notified state by state.
Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025: How the Funding Works — 60:40 and the Fixed Allocation
Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025 is a centrally sponsored scheme. The Centre and the states share the cost in a 60:40 ratio for most states, and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states. The estimated annual cost is Rs.1,51,282 crore, covering wage, material and administrative components, of which the Centre’s share is Rs.95,692.31 crore. The administrative expenditure ceiling has been raised from 6% to 9%, so more can be spent on running the scheme.
Under Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025, the funding is a fixed yearly allocation, which is a change from MGNREGA’s demand-driven funding. Under MGNREGA, the money followed the demand for work; under the new Act, the Centre gives a normative allocation fixed for each state every year. The states bear the cost of the unemployment allowance and of delay compensation when work or wages are delayed. The official mission portal is https://vbgramg.dord.gov.in
Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025: The Four Priority Areas of Work
Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025 ties the work to four priority areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, and climate resilience. The idea is that the guaranteed work should create assets that last. Water security covers canals, check dams, rejuvenation of ponds and afforestation. Core rural infrastructure covers rural roads, Panchayat Bhawans, Anganwadi centres and solid waste management assets. The Gram Panchayat plans the works in its area under these four priorities, through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans linked with national spatial platforms.
Livelihood infrastructure means assets that directly support rural livelihoods, and climate resilience means works that help villages adapt to climate-related challenges, including soil conservation. The work is monitored through AI-based monitoring, real-time dashboards, biometric authentication and mobile-based monitoring, along with social audits. Rural housing under PMAY-Gramin is a separate scheme that also builds durable rural assets — read about it at https://unqinformation.com/pmay-gramin-scheme-2026/ The AP government portal at https://www.ap.gov.in lists the state’s rural employment and welfare schemes.
Read also: PM Kisan Scheme 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days of work are guaranteed under VB–G RAM G?
125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year, up from 100 days under MGNREGA.
Has MGNREGA ended?
Yes, as a law. The VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 replaces MGNREGA, and the new mission has been running from 1 July 2026.
When are wages paid?
Weekly, or in any case not later than a fortnight after the work was done, by direct bank transfer.
What if work is not given?
Unemployment allowance is payable. States bear the cost of the unemployment allowance and of delay compensation.
Where do I check my work and wages?
On the VB–G RAM G portal at vbgramg.dord.gov.in, or at your Gram Panchayat.
Conclusion
Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act 2025 raises the rural employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days, ties work to four priority areas — water, rural infrastructure, livelihoods and climate resilience — and changes the funding to a 60:40 Centre-State share with a fixed yearly allocation. It is already running: the official portal counts work from 1 July 2026. For the AP figures, check the portal’s MIS reports rather than trusting any website’s guess.
Last updated: November 2026
Venkatesh is the Content Lead and Researcher at UNQ Information. He researches government schemes, pension programs, citizen services, and welfare initiatives related to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He regularly publishes updates and educational content to help readers understand eligibility criteria, required documents, application procedures, benefit details, and important government announcements in a simple and easy-to-understand format.