Big rural jobs boost: Rs 95,600 crore allocated as government launches Viksit Bharat-G RAM G employment scheme

Rashmi Pandey — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:16:54 +0000

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced the formal notification of the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, a major rural employment initiative that will increase guaranteed employment days in rural areas from 100 to 125 days annually beginning July 1.

Addressing media persons in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said the new framework would gradually transition from the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) system while retaining all current provisions during the interim implementation phase.

“The notification of the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act has been issued. Starting July 1, our brothers and sisters seeking employment in rural areas will be employed for 125 days per year instead of 100,” Chouhan said during the announcement.

The Union Minister clarified that all ongoing and unfinished works currently being carried out under MGNREGA would continue until July 1 under the existing structure. He added that states would be given a transition period to prepare for implementation of the new framework.

According to Chouhan, most states will receive six months to complete the administrative and technical preparations required for the rollout of the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G scheme. However, he stated that after July 1, any new work undertaken without completing the transition preparations would still be funded under the new scheme’s financial structure.

“To implement the Act, the Government of India has allocated more than Rs 95,600 crore in the budget,” the minister said, highlighting the Centre’s focus on expanding rural employment opportunities and strengthening village-level economic activity.

The announcement signals one of the most significant proposed changes to India’s rural employment guarantee system in recent years. MGNREGA, introduced in 2005, currently guarantees 100 days of wage employment annually to rural households seeking unskilled manual work.

Government officials indicated that the new initiative aims to improve rural infrastructure development, employment continuity and implementation efficiency while maintaining welfare protections available under the earlier programme.

The Centre has increasingly focused on rural employment, infrastructure and agricultural support measures amid rising emphasis on village-based economic development and self-reliance initiatives under the broader “Viksit Bharat” vision.

While detailed operational guidelines of the new Act are expected to be released separately, Chouhan stated that coordination with state governments is already underway to ensure a smooth transition process before the July implementation deadline.

The minister also stressed that workers currently registered under MGNREGA would continue receiving benefits during the transition period and that no ongoing employment activities would be disrupted immediately.

The announcement is expected to trigger political and policy discussions around rural employment funding, state preparedness and the future structure of India’s rural welfare programmes ahead of the nationwide rollout.

WelfareScheme | Business Upturn

Big rural jobs boost: Rs 95,600 crore allocated as government launches Viksit Bharat-G RAM G employment scheme