Centre releases draft norms for Viksit Bharat-G RAM G

New Delhi: The Ministry of Rural Development on Saturday published draft rules to establish the institutional, administrative, financial and governance framework for the revamped rural employment and livelihood welfare programme.

The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB -G RAM G, replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). It was notified this month and will come into effect on July 1.

The ministry has sought stakeholder views on the draft within a month after which the rules will be finalised. The scheme guarantees 125 days of paid wage employment per rural household each year, compared with 100 days under the programme it replaces.


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The draft rules pertain to transition from the old Act to the new, the setting up of a national-level steering committee and the Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council. They also deal with administrative expenses, grievance redressal mechanism, payment of wages and unemployment allowance as well as rules on the manner of expenditure incurred in excess of normative allocation and expenses for union territories without legislature.

"The Transitional Provisions Rules, 2026 ensure smooth transition from MGNREGA to the VB-G RAM G framework through continuation of works, settlement of liabilities, validity of job cards and funds for interim arrangements, if any, till states notify the new scheme," the ministry said.

The Grievance Redressal Rules, 2026 establish a transparent, technology-enabled, multi-tier and time-bound grievance redressal mechanism with digital registration, tracking, escalation and appeal systems to strengthen accountability and citizen-centric governance, it added.

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The National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) will provide strategic oversight for implementation of the Act along with advice on normative allocations, convergence, monitoring frameworks, technology-enabled governance systems and policy coordination. The Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council (CGRGC) shall perform functions, duties and advisory roles relating to evaluation and monitoring to support implementation, evaluation and accountability under the Act, it said.

As per the statement, the broad-based stakeholder consultation and participatory governance will help in effective implementation of the VB-G RAM G framework for strengthening rural livelihoods, employment generation and sustainable rural development.