New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her assent to the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, or G Ram G Act, formally replacing the nearly 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and setting the stage for a revamped rural employment framework that promises up to 125 days of work annually for village households.
Cleared by Parliament last week, the new law increases the employment guarantee from the 100 days mandated under MGNREGA and seeks to reorient rural job creation towards building durable and productive assets, including water conservation works, rural roads and village infrastructure. The government has pitched the move as part of its broader Viksit Bharat vision, aimed at combining income support with long-term rural development.
For millions of rural families, the change translates into a higher assured number of paid workdays, with employment to be planned locally through gram sabhas and panchayats. The Act retains key worker protections, including time-bound provision of jobs and payment of unemployment allowance if work is not provided, while emphasising quicker and more regular wage disbursals.
A significant departure from the old regime is the funding structure. Under the G Ram G Act, wage and project costs will be shared between the Centre and the states, unlike MGNREGA where wages were fully funded by the Union government. The Centre argues that this will improve accountability and implementation, though states have expressed concerns about the added financial burden.
The repeal of MGNREGA, long seen as a cornerstone of India’s rural safety net, has triggered sharp political reactions. Opposition parties have accused the government of dismantling a rights-based entitlement for the rural poor, while the Centre has defended the new law as an expanded and more outcome-driven employment guarantee.
As the G Ram G Act comes into force, attention will now shift to its rollout in states — from availability of funds and timely wage payments to whether the higher promise of 125 days of work actually translates into jobs on the ground. With rural employment remaining a critical lifeline during agrarian distress and lean seasons, the new law will be closely watched for its ability to match intent with delivery.
BI Bureau
