VB-G Ramji Act Becomes Law: Rural Job Guarantee Raised to 125 Days Amid Political Row
VB-G Ram Ji Act Becomes Law: President Approves 125 Days Job Guarantee for Rural India: The President has given assent to the Vikas Bharat–Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural), or VB-G Ramji Bill, 2025, officially turning it into law. With this, the statutory guarantee of wage employment for rural families has been increased from 100 days to a minimum of 125 days per financial year, a move the government has described as a historic step for strengthening rural livelihoods.
According to the government, the implementation of the VB-G Ramji Act will further reinforce the legal guarantee of employment in rural areas, enhance income security for labourers, farmers, and landless families, and help reduce rural poverty by ensuring work opportunities closer to home.
The bill witnessed a stormy passage in Parliament, with debates stretching late into the night. Opposition parties accused the government of merely renaming the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name. The government rejected the charge, arguing that the new law goes beyond a name change by addressing structural shortcomings and increasing guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125.
During the debate, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari launched a sharp attack on the BJP, stating that if Congress returns to power, it would rename the scheme again. Despite strong opposition and an all-night sit-in staged by opposition parties outside the Constitution House, the bill was passed by voice vote.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the VB-G Ramji Act focuses on empowerment and inclusive development, not just employment generation. The government claims the law prioritises saturation-based delivery to ensure no eligible family is left out, with special emphasis on women, vulnerable sections, and needy households.
Under the new framework, employment generation will be linked with infrastructure development such as roads, water conservation, irrigation, housing, and other rural projects. All works will be integrated into the Vikas Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, creating a unified national framework for rural public assets. The Centre and states will jointly plan projects aligned with the goal of a developed India by 2047.
The law also allows state governments to pause work for up to 60 days during sowing and harvesting seasons. This is expected to prevent labour shortages for farmers during peak agricultural periods, while enabling labourers to earn from alternative sources. Increased availability of labour is also likely to reduce additional wage burdens on farmers and help stabilise crop prices.
With higher guaranteed employment and integrated development planning, the government believes the VB-G Ramji Act will strengthen rural incomes, curb migration to cities, and lay the foundation for a prosperous, self-reliant rural India in the long term.
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