President assents to VB–G RAM G Act, replacing MGNREGA amid debate

The President of India has given assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025 , formally replacing the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) . The new legislation enhances the statutory wage employment guarantee for rural households from 100 to 125 days per financial year and seeks to integrate livelihoods, development convergence, and saturation-based delivery, aiming to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and self-reliant Rural Bharat.

Since its inception in 2005 as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) , later renamed in 2009 as MGNREGA, the programme has provided a rights-based employment framework for rural families. The government says the renaming and restructuring reflect a shift from a stand-alone employment scheme to an integrated rural development mission that connects wage employment with livelihood opportunities, skill development, rural infrastructure creation, and natural resource management, ensuring full coverage of eligible households.

The move, however, has sparked political debate and concern among civil society groups who argue that removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name diminishes the historical and moral legacy of the scheme, which has been recognized globally for its role in providing social security and employment in rural India. Since its launch, the programme has faced challenges including delayed wage payments, inadequate budget allocations, exclusion errors, and administrative gaps at the local level, although it has remained a vital safety net during economic shocks, such as droughts and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government maintains that VB–G RAM G strengthens the legal and operational framework of rural employment guarantees, linking them to broader rural development goals. With the enactment of the new law, the focus is on creating a resilient, inclusive, and empowered rural economy, though its success will depend on timely implementation, adequate funding, and effective on-ground delivery of employment and livelihood opportunities.