New Delhi: The Union Government is likely to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) with a new legislative framework named the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), also referred to as the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025. According to reports, VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 will be introduced in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The bill has been included in the revised list of the house, reported Times Now.
Reacting to this bill on renaming, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: “I don’t know if the public understands this, but whenever a scheme’s name is changed in this manner, think about how many offices, how much stationery, and how many other elements are involved that incur expenses. What is the benefit of this, and for whom is it being done? Why is Mahatma Gandhi’s name being removed? Mahatma Gandhi is one of the biggest leaders of the world. I don’t know what is their aim or intention? The Parliament is not working….We are not discussing anything substantial…We are not discussing real issues in the house…”
Delhi: On the renaming of MNREGA to Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “I don’t know if the public understands this, but whenever a scheme’s name is changed in this manner, think about how many offices, how much stationery, and how many other… pic.twitter.com/JBD0gezGkN
— IANS (@ians_india) December 15, 2025
Under the proposed law, the existing employment guarantee scheme will be repealed and replaced with a programme that provides 125 days of unskilled manual work annually to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for it.
The new scheme aims to create a statutory rural employment guarantee aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. It places emphasis on empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation through public works. Priority areas for work include water security initiatives, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related projects and drought or flood mitigation activities as part of the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.
While MGNREGA was entirely funded by the Central government, the VB-G RAM G Bill proposes a cost-sharing model between the Centre and state governments. Under this pattern, the Centre and states will share costs at 90:10 in the Northeast and Himalayan states and certain union territories, and 60:40 in all other states and union territories with legislatures, according to the Hindustan Times.
A new Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council is to be established to oversee implementation, along with state-level councils for monitoring and review. Panchayati Raj institutions will play a principal role in planning, executing and supervising works under the scheme.
The proposed legislation also includes provisions for unemployment allowance if employment is not provided within 15 days of application. Additionally, it prohibits VB-G RAM G work during designated peak agricultural seasons to ensure labour availability for farming.
