The Ministry of Rural Development convened a high-level inter-ministerial consultation on 24 June 2026 at Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi, to discuss the Draft Convergence Framework under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB–G RAM G Act). The meeting was chaired by Shri Rohit Kansal, Secretary of the Department of Rural Development, and attended by representatives from 18 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India as part of preparatory activities ahead of the Act's commencement on 1 July 2026.
The consultation focused on operationalizing the Act's whole-of-government approach to rural development through decentralized, Panchayati Raj Institution-led planning and convergence. Secretary Kansal emphasized that convergence is a core pillar of the VB–G RAM G Act, essential for addressing interconnected rural development priorities including water security, livelihoods, infrastructure, climate resilience, and local economic development. The Act envisions a "Single Plan – Multi Funding" approach that enables different schemes and programs to work toward common development outcomes while retaining their respective mandates and funding structures.
The Draft Convergence Framework centers on the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP) as the primary planning instrument for rural development at the Gram Panchayat level. The VGPP is prepared through community participation and approved by the Gram Sabha, integrating local needs with resources, expertise, and investments available under various Central and State schemes. The framework establishes a bottom-up planning architecture where development priorities identified by Gram Sabhas are aggregated through Panchayati Raj Institutions and aligned with sectoral programs of different Ministries and Departments.
The Act organizes rural development interventions under four thematic focus areas: Water Security; Core Rural Infrastructure; Rural Livelihoods; and Special Works for Mitigation of Extreme Weather Events. To facilitate operationalization from 1 July 2026, the Department has notified an interim list of 318 permissible works covering natural resource management, irrigation, rural connectivity, community infrastructure, livelihood-supporting assets, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness. The meeting included detailed discussions on strengthening technical and financial convergence, identifying suitable schemes for convergence, enhancing digital interoperability, and establishing institutional mechanisms for coordinated implementation and monitoring.
The Convergence Framework is proposed to be operationalized from 1 July 2026 alongside the commencement of the VB–G RAM G Act, aiming to strengthen decentralized planning, optimize public investments, and accelerate integrated rural development through a coordinated whole-of-government approach.