Archive · 16 Dec 2025
Government Introduces Bill to Replace MNREGA
The government is planning to introduce a new law called the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB—G RAM G BILL, 2025.
This new law will replace the old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).
The new scheme aims to provide job guarantees to people in rural areas, increasing the guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125 days per year.
The bill will be presented in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
If passed, it will change how job guarantees are given to rural workers, including new provisions for funding sharing between the Centre and states, a pause in employment during peak agricultural seasons, and weekly wage payments.
The current scheme, MNREGA, has been in place since 2005 and guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
The new scheme will also introduce a pause in employment guarantee during peak agricultural seasons, aggregating to 60 days in a financial year.
Funding for the new scheme will be shared between the Centre and states, with different ratios for different regions.
Wages will be paid on a weekly basis or within a fortnight, with no compensation for delays beyond this period.
Opposition parties and activists have criticized the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme, the shift in financial responsibility to states, and the potential weakening of the employment guarantee framework.
The government views these changes as necessary adjustments to reflect socio-economic transformations and align with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
The Central government is introducing a new Bill to replace MNREGA, named Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB—G RAM G BILL, 2025.
The new scheme aims to provide 125 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households, up from 100 days under MNREGA.
The Bill introduces a pause in employment guarantee during peak agricultural seasons, aggregating to 60 days in a financial year.
Funding for the new scheme will be shared between the Centre and states, with different ratios for different regions.
Wages will be paid on a weekly basis or within a fortnight, with no compensation for delays beyond this period.
- Who
- Central Government
- What
- Introduction of a new Bill to replace MNREGA
- When
- 2025
- Where
- Lok Sabha
- Why
- To replace the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme with a new job guarantee scheme
Opposition Parties and Activists
Central Government
Renaming of the Scheme
Opposition Parties and Activists
Opposition parties, including Congress leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, have criticized the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme, calling it disrespectful and unnecessary.
Central Government
The government has not explicitly addressed the renaming controversy in the context of the new bill's provisions.
Funding and Financial Responsibility
Opposition Parties and Activists
Critics argue that shifting 40% of the financial burden to states, except for Northeastern and Himalayan regions, will create an additional financial strain on states and potentially reduce the scheme's effectiveness.
Central Government
The government views the new funding structure as a necessary adjustment to reflect the socio-economic transformations in rural areas and to align with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Employment Guarantee Framework
Opposition Parties and Activists
Opposition leaders and activists claim that the new bill weakens the right to work by introducing a pause in employment during peak agricultural seasons and shifting to a fixed central allocation system, which could reduce the scheme's responsiveness during economic downturns.
Central Government
The government emphasizes that the new bill aims to strengthen the rural employment guarantee by increasing the number of guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 and improving payment timelines.
- Bill Name
- Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB—G RAM G BILL, 2025
- Current Scheme
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA)
- Introduced By
- Central Government
- Introduced In
- Lok Sabha
- Year
- 2025
- Guaranteed Employment Days
- 125 days per financial year (up from 100 days)
- Funding Sharing
- 90:10 for Northeastern and Himalayan states, 60:40 for others
- Pause in Employment
- Up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons
- Wage Payment
- Weekly basis or within a fortnight, with no compensation for delays beyond this period
- Current Budget Allocation
- Rs 86,000 crore for FY 2025–26
- Current Funds Released
- Rs 45,783 crore in FY 2025-26
- Women's Participation
- 58.15% in FY 2024–25
- Current Wage Rates
- Rs 241 to Rs 400 per day in different states
- Average Employment Days
- 50 days per household in FY 2024-’25
Sources
Centre to introduce Bill to replace MNREGA with new job guarantee scheme
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