The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 has come into force across India effective July 1, 2026, marking a significant expansion of rural employment guarantees. The legislation provides eligible rural households with a statutory entitlement to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment, increased from the previous 100 days, making rural employment more effective, transparent and outcome-oriented.
The Government of India has notified revised wage rates under the VB-G RAM G Act, establishing that no notified daily wage anywhere in the country will be below ₹300. The national average notified wage has increased from ₹298.8 per day to ₹327.4 per day, representing an average enhancement of more than 10 percent. Specific states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have witnessed wage increases ranging from 15 to 25 percent.
To ensure seamless implementation from day one, the government has released an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore to States and Union Territories to facilitate uninterrupted employment generation, timely wage payments and execution of development works. The Act aims to accelerate the creation of durable rural assets, conservation of natural resources, enhancement of agricultural productivity, livelihood promotion and women-led development.
Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan described this as a historic and unprecedented day for rural India, emphasizing that the government's highest priority is to ensure no eligible rural worker is deprived of employment even for a single day. He stated that both Centre and States have completed all necessary administrative, financial and technical preparations for smooth rollout.
A National Launch Programme will be held on July 2, 2026 at Mukkavaripalle Village, Obulavaripalle Mandal, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh, attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Konidela Pawan Kalyan, and other dignitaries. The event will feature the formal launch of VB-G RAM G, distribution of Rural Employment Guarantee Cards to beneficiaries, launch of the VB-G RAM G software platform, release of key publications, and inauguration of several implementation initiatives.