The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 came into force across rural India on Wednesday, marking a major overhaul of the country’s rural employment framework by increasing the statutory employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days for every eligible rural household.
The legislation aims to strengthen livelihood security, create durable rural assets and accelerate the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 through enhanced employment opportunities and sustainable rural development.
Describing the rollout as a “historic and unprecedented” moment, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the new law represents a significant step towards ensuring dignity, self-respect and secure livelihoods for millions of rural workers.
In a post on X, Chouhan said, “Today is a historic and unprecedented day. Under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) has been implemented across the country today. This is not just an act, but a new chapter of dignity, self-respect, and secure livelihood for crores of our rural worker brothers and sisters. Now, rural households will get a statutory right to 125 days of employment instead of 100.”
“I am fully confident that this initiative will create new livelihood opportunities in villages, accelerate the creation of durable assets, empower women (Matrushakti), and give a new momentum to the building of a self-reliant rural India,” he added.
On Tuesday, a day before the nationwide rollout, the Union Minister had said the Centre, in coordination with States and Union Territories, had completed all administrative, financial and technical preparations to ensure a seamless transition to the new framework.
“Our priority is to ensure that no eligible rural worker remains without work even for a single day. The Centre and the States have worked together to complete all preparations for the implementation of the VB-G RAM G Act. Adequate financial resources have been made available, implementation systems are fully in place and ongoing works will continue without interruption,” Chouhan said.
To support the implementation, the Central Government has made an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore to States and Union Territories. The allocation is intended to ensure uninterrupted implementation, timely wage payments and a smooth transition from the previous framework without disrupting ongoing works.
The Rural Development Ministry has also clarified that all existing e-KYC verified job cards will remain valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued, ensuring that beneficiaries continue to receive employment and wages without interruption during the transition period.
The new legislation places Gram Panchayats at the centre of rural development, with a greater focus on creating durable community assets, natural resource management, water conservation, agriculture and allied activities, rural infrastructure development, women’s empowerment through Self Help Groups, convergence with flagship rural development programmes and technology-enabled transparent governance.
The Ministry said that the strengthened framework will not only provide additional employment but also improve village infrastructure, generate sustainable livelihoods and enhance the quality of life in rural areas through participatory planning and effective implementation.
The rollout follows discussions at the recently concluded Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan (RGVS), where Rural Development Ministers from States and Union Territories reaffirmed their preparedness to implement the Act from July 1. According to the Ministry, 29 States and Union Territories have made budgetary provisions, while 24 States have already notified their respective VB-G RAM G State Schemes.
The national launch of the VB-G RAM G Mission will be held on July 2 at Mukkavaripalli village in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district. Chouhan will formally launch the programme in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Ministers of State Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani and Kamlesh Paswan, along with other dignitaries.
The launch event will include the distribution of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards to beneficiary households, the formal inauguration of the mission, the screening of an awareness film on the initiative and the release of a compendium of opinion articles highlighting the objectives and vision of the new rural employment framework.
The implementation of the VB-G RAM G Act marks a significant milestone in India’s rural development agenda, with the government positioning it as a key pillar in building resilient, self-reliant and prosperous rural communities while advancing the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.
