'Another lazy headline-grabbing exercise': Congress on VB-G RAM G Act notification date

New Delhi, As the Centre announced that the VB-G RAM G Act will come into force from July 1, the Congress on Monday described it as "yet another lazy headline-grabbing exercise" and alleged that the only guarantee that the law offers is that of "extreme centralisation" and "weakening of the bargaining power of rural labour".

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the constitutional right to work and the right to wages of rural Indian families are being stolen.

"Today's press release by the Union Ministry of Rural Development on VB-G RAM G adds nothing new to what is already known. It is yet another lazy headline-grabbing exercise by a government that specialises in such exercises. No details have been revealed except to say that they will be released soon," Ramesh said on X.


"If this replacement for MGNREGA is to be implemented from July 1, 2026, then all operational details should have been available by now. Public consultations and discussions with state governments on these details have to be done in a meaningful manner and not just to complete a formality," he said.

"But let there be no doubt. The only guarantee that VB-G RAM G offers is that of extreme centralisation and weakening of the bargaining power of rural labour," Ramesh added.

The Centre on Monday announced that the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act will come into force across the country from July 1, replacing the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The new Act will have a fresh framework that promises 125 days of statutory wage employment to rural households, it said.

In a statement, the Ministry of Rural Development described it as a "historic transition" in India's rural development architecture, aligned with the vision of "Viksit Bharat @2047".

The Act seeks to usher in a "future-ready and productivity-oriented rural transformation" while strengthening livelihood security, rural incomes and village-level infrastructure development, it said.

According to notifications issued by the ministry, the VB-G RAM G Act will come into force in all states and Union Territories on July 1, and the MGNREGA will stand repealed from the same date.

The ministry statement assured that the transition from MGNREGA to the new framework would be seamless, without disruption to workers.

"Ongoing works under MGNREGA as on June 30 shall be saved and carried over to the new framework seamlessly," the notification said.

The existing e-KYC verified MGNREGA job cards will remain valid until the new "Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards" are issued, it said, adding that workers without job cards can continue to register at the gram panchayat level.

Workers will not be denied employment due to pending e-KYC, the ministry said.

Draft rules related to wage payments, grievance redressal, allocation norms, administrative expenditure and transitional provisions are being prepared in consultation with states and Union territories and will soon be published for public consultation, it added.