VB-G RAM G Act to Come into Force from July 1, 2026: 125 Days of Guaranteed Rural Wage Employment

📌 Summary:

• Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Act, 2025 comes into force across rural India from 1 July 2026
• Raises the statutory wage-employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per eligible rural household, with a focus on durable rural assets
• An interim allocation of Rs 95,692.31 crore released to States/UTs for seamless rollout, timely wage payments and uninterrupted ongoing works
• Existing e-KYC-verified job cards remain valid until new "Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards" are issued, ensuring no disruption in access to work
• Places Gram Panchayats at the centre; emphasis on durable asset creation, natural resource and water conservation, agriculture and allied activities, women's empowerment through SHGs, convergence with rural schemes, and tech-enabled transparent governance
• Readiness: 29 States/UTs have made budgetary provisions and 24 States have already notified their State Scheme; aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (employment generation, rural livelihoods, public expenditure); GS2 (welfare schemes, Panchayati Raj-led implementation).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 effective 1 July 2026; guarantee raised from 100 to 125 days
• Interim allocation: Rs 95,692.31 crore to States/UTs
• New entitlement document: Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card (to replace the job card)
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Rural Development

🔑 Key Term: Wage-employment guarantee - a statutory entitlement to a minimum number of days of paid manual work per rural household each year.