VB-G RAM G replaces MGNREGA: Mahatma Gandhi’s name dropped, new funding model – What changes? 4 key differences

Apart from the omission of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme — a move strongly criticised by the Opposition — the new law increases the statutory wage employment guarantee for unskilled workers to 125 days in a financial year. Here’s a glimpse at the key differences

Updated22 Dec 2025, 04:41 PM IST

New Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, left, along with other leaders during a protest against the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill that seeks to replace the existing MGNREGA, at the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)(PTI12_19_2025_000350A)(PTI)

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G) Bill, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005

Apart from the omission of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme — a move strongly criticised by the Opposition — the new law increases the statutory wage employment guarantee for unskilled workers to 125 days in a financial year.

Here’s a glimpse at the key differences between the new VB-G RAM G bill and MGNREGA:

VB-G RAM G vs MGNREGA: Key differences

Change in employment days – The VB-G RAM G scheme raises the number of guaranteed wage employment days in a financial year to 125 days. Under MGNREGA, the number of guaranteed days of employment was 100.
Shift from full central funding – Under Section 22 of the Bill, the Centre and states will share funds in a 60:40 ratio. For North Eastern states, Himalayan states, and Union Territories such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the sharing pattern will be 90:10. This distribution in funding departs from the MGNREGA model, where the wage component was fully funded by the Centre.
Work availability: Under the new law, there would be a 60-day pause in the scheme during the peak agricultural seasons of sowing and harvesting, a move said to be aimed at ensuring farm labour. availability.
Change in managing body: MGNREGA was managed by the Rural Development Ministry, while VB G Ram G scheme would be managed by Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council
The VB-G RAM G also mandates steeper penalty for violations of its provisions, raising the fine from the previous amount of ₹1,000 to ₹10,000.
All works under the new scheme shall be originated from the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans consolidated at the Block, District and State levels and further aggregated into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack