Draft rules to implement VB-G RAM G Act now in public domain

NEW DELHI: The govt has put in the public domain draft rules to implement the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G), laying out the roadmap for transition to the new rural employment programme that will replace MGNREGA from July 1 and outlines the contours of the institutional, financial, administrative and grievance redressal framework.

The draft rules were published by the ministry of rural development on Friday in the e-Gazette for wider public consultation for a period of 30 days before finalisation.

The ministry of rural development in a review meeting on Saturday asked States/UTs have been advised to ensure timely completion of ongoing works under the MGNREGS before the commencement of the revised framework. However, it was also emphasised that ongoing works as on 30th June, would be transitioned under VB–G RAM G, a fact emphasised in the transition rules too.

The rules also state that the existing e-KYC-verified MGNREGA job cards will remain temporarily valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued, while fresh works may also be opened if ongoing projects are insufficient to meet labour demand.

The ministry has issued 8 notifications of draft rules covering the transitional provisions, the National Level Steering Committee, the Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council, parametres for normative allocations, expenditure incurred beyond normative allocations, administrative expenses, grievance redressal and payment of wages and unemployment allowances.

The Central Government will for each financial year, determine the normative allocation of the funds, for every State, based on a set of “objective parameters”.

According to the ministry, an indicative framework for categorisation of Gram Panchayats into A/B/C categories has also been shared with States/UTs to facilitate planning and implementation under the revised framework.

At a review meeting on Saturday secretary MoRD Rohit Kansal shared that Labour Budget for the month of June, has been approved for all States/UTs based on their projected demand and mother sanctions amounting to Rs 26,971 crore under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS have been issued towards wage, material, Administrative and social audit unit components to ensure uninterrupted flow of funds and continued implementation of works during the transition.

The new law raises the annual employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days. Direct benefit transfer will continue as the mode for payment of wages and unemployment allowance.

The draft rules highlight that under the new framework a Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council chaired by the rural development minister will be set-up that will establish a central evaluation and monitoring system and advise the Central Government on the implementation of the law.

A National Level Steering Committee chaired by secretary rural development will provide high-level strategic oversight for the effective implementation and recommend decisions relating to normative allocations to states.

As per the draft Grievance Redressal Rules, the states will establish a technologically equipped “time-bound and multi-tier grievance redressal mechanism" from gram panchayat to state level.