Viksit Bharat - G RAM G Act to be enforced from 1st July onwards

The Central Government on 11th May, 2026 notified the implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act, 2025. The same will come into force across the country from 1st July, 2026. Enactment of the G RAM G Act will repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 from the same date. 

Under the new framework, every rural household with adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work will be entitled to a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year. The scheme under VB G RAM G Act will continue to provide unemployment allowance where work is not provided within the prescribed timeframe. 

Wage Payments Continued Through DBT 

The government stated that wage payments under the Viksit Bharat G RAM G Act shall continue to be made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into workers’ bank or post office accounts. 

Wages are to be paid on a weekly or fifteen days’ basis from the closure of the muster roll. Delay compensation provisions have also been retained in cases where payments are not made within the stipulated period. 

Existing Job Cards and Ongoing Works to Continue 

The government has clarified that employment under MGNREGA shall continue until the commencement of the VB G RAM G Act, 2025 on 1st July. Ongoing works under MGNREGA, as on 30th June, shall continue under the new framework. 

Existing e-KYC verified MGNREGA Job Cards will remain valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued. Workers without Job Cards may continue to register at the Gram Panchayat level. 

It was further stated that workers will not be denied employment due to pending e-KYC verification, and facilitation for e-KYC completion will continue through State Governments. 

Draft Rules Under VB - G RAM G Act 

The Ministry of Rural Development is currently preparing draft rules under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act in consultation with States and Union Territories. 

The proposed rules include provisions relating to normative allocation, transitional arrangements, grievance redressal, administrative expenditure, wage payments, unemployment allowance and expenditure-sharing mechanisms. 

The government stated that transitional provisions are being incorporated to facilitate the shift from MGNREGA to the new framework, and that draft rules are expected to be published for public consultation shortly. 

Gram Panchayats Central to Implementation 

According to the Government, the new framework under the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Act, 2025 places Gram Panchayats at the centre of implementation and rural development activities.