What Is VB-G RAM G Scheme?

The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) – widely known as VB-G RAM G Scheme, 2025 — is India’s new rural employment and livelihood guarantee framework that replaces the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This scheme represents a major policy shift in strengthening rural income security, increasing guaranteed workdays, and linking employment with sustainable rural development.

Why Was VB-G RAM G Introduced?

The VB-G RAM G Scheme was introduced to:

1. Replaced MGNREGA, which had governed rural employment guarantees since 2005, due to evolving rural challenges and implementation limitations.
2. Increase rural employment days and ensure more predictable and outcome-driven work.
3. Link employment with rural infrastructure development, water security, and climate resilience.
4. Strengthen transparency, accountability, and digital governance in welfare delivery.

The policy shift reflects the federal government’s vision of a self-reliant and developed rural India aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047 goals.

How VB-G RAM G Differs From MGNREGA?

MGNREGA and VB-G RAM G represent two different phases of India’s rural employment policy, differing in objectives, design, and long-term orientation. Here is the table that clearly defines the difference between VB-G RAM G and MNREGA:

Feature	MGNREGA (2005 Act)	VB-G RAM G (2025 Act)
Guaranteed Workdays	Minimum 100 days of wage employment per rural household.	125 days guaranteed annually.
Funding Pattern	The Central Government funded most of the costs.	Centre-State shared funding (60:40 general, 90:10 Himalayan/NE states).
Work Planning	Demand-driven, based on village work requests.	Normative allocations and structured annual planning.
Seasonal Work	No statutory pause for farming.	Peak agricultural pauses (up to 60 days) to protect farm labour.
Asset Types	Labour-intensive public works.	Livelihood & infrastructure-oriented works including water security.

Key Features of VB-G RAM G Scheme

The following are the key features of VB-G RAM G scheme in India:

• Increased Guaranteed Workdays: Under the new law, every rural household whose adults volunteer for unskilled manual work is entitled to 125 days of wage employment in a year, a 25% increase over the prior benchmark.
• Shared Funding Architecture: VB-G RAM G introduces shared financial responsibility between the Centre and States, 60:40 ratio for general states and 90:10 for Himalayan & NE states.
• Demand & Supply Planning: The scheme replaces the demand-driven approach of MGNREGA with normative allocations, meaning the government pre-defines budgets and planning parameters for rural work.
• Seasonal Work Pauses: To ensure farm labour availability during sowing/harvest, VB-G RAM G allows a statutory pause of up to 60 days for employment works.
• Rural Infrastructure & Livelihood Focus: Projects under VB-G RAM G emphasize water security, climate resilience, roads, storage facilities, and livelihood enhancements, linking job work with long-term rural assets.
• Digital & Transparent Implementation: The scheme promotes Aadhaar-linked payments, GPS monitoring, AI fraud detection, and frequent social audits to curb corruption and improve delivery.

Benefits of VB-G RAM G Scheme

Here are the several benefits of VB-G RAM G scheme launched by government replacing MNREGA:

• More Employment & Income Support: With 125 days guaranteed work and structured planning, rural households get more predictable income support compared to earlier.
• Improved Rural Infrastructure: Linking employment to asset creation fosters durable improvements in rural connectivity, irrigation, water systems, and storage.
• Enhanced Transparency: Digital tools for monitoring, weekly disclosures, and social audits aim to reduce corruption and ensure timely wage disbursements.
• Support During Agricultural Seasons: Work pause provisions help safeguard agricultural labour availability during crucial farming seasons.

Also read: List of Government schemes for MSMEs

Criticisms & Concerns Around VB-G RAM G

Despite its goals, the VB-G RAM G is the government scheme in India that has stirred debate, such as:

• Opposition leaders and activists argue that it undermines the rights-based nature of MGNREGA and might reduce access to work if allocations aren’t demand-responsive.
• Some states express concern over the increased financial burden due to Centre-State cost sharing.
• Experts worry that the statutory pause rules could limit actual work availability during peak seasons.

These debates highlight the balance between fiscal sustainability, rural rights, and development priorities.

Eligibility Criteria For Applying Under VB-G RAM G Scheme

VB-G RAM G continues MGNREGA’s basic premise:

• Rural households with adult volunteers for unskilled work are eligible.
• Wage employment entitlements apply per household, not per individual, similar to the previous framework.

Additional focus on local planning ensures that Gram Panchayats are involved in identifying village priorities.

How VB-G RAM G Supports Rural Livelihoods?

The scheme prioritizes employment with purpose, linking wage work to asset creation, water resource development, and climate adaptation. These works help:

• Strengthen farm resilience (e.g., check dams, ponds).
• Improve rural roads and markets to cut agricultural costs.
• Build irrigation and storage for enhanced farm income.

This shift means employment isn’t just a wage support system but a tool for sustainable rural transformation.

Implementation & Monitoring Mechanisms

VB-G RAM G relies on modern governance mechanisms such as:

• Aadhaar-linked digital wage payments for transparency.
• Mobile apps, GIS, and GPS monitoring to track projects.
• AI-based fraud detection systems.
• Biannual social audits with community participation.

These tech-enabled features aim to reduce leakages and ensure quality outcomes.

What Does VB-G RAM G Means for Startups & Self-Employment?

For rural entrepreneurs, VB-G RAM G also opens doors to linked livelihood opportunities:

• Skill development through work missions aligned with rural economic needs.
• Better local infrastructure improves market access for local businesses.
• Enhanced water systems and connectivity support agri-entrepreneurs.

Startups working in rural technology, agritech, and logistics can leverage improved infrastructure and digital governance to expand services in rural districts.

Conclusion

The VB-G RAM G Scheme marks a transformative change in India’s rural employment landscape, aiming to provide not just wage work but integrated livelihood support and rural development. With 125 days of work, shared funding, digital transparency, and asset-oriented planning, the Act seeks to bridge income security with sustainable growth — though not without debate on rights-based access versus fiscal priorities.

For rural residents, jobseekers, and aspiring entrepreneurs engaging with the Udyamita Helpline, understanding this scheme is vital — as it affects livelihood guarantees, work planning, and rural enterprise opportunities across India’s villages.

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