New VB-G RAM G Rules For Rural Workers: On May 11, 2026, the Centre said a new rural job programme will begin on July 1, 2026. This new system will replace MGNREGA and will work under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB–G RAM G. The government has now put draft rules in the public domain so states, experts, worker groups, civil society groups, and ordinary people can send their views before the rules are final.
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The new law is being described by the government as a “next-generation rural development framework”. It is not only about giving wage work. It also aims to help build rural roads and other assets, make villages stronger against climate problems, and connect job work with village planning in a better way. The government says this is part of its wider Viksit Bharat 2047 plan.
What will change for workers?
One of the biggest changes is that the job guarantee will go up from 100 days to 125 days in a year. The Act says every rural household with adults willing to do unskilled manual work will be entitled to those 125 days of wage employment each financial year. Wages will still be paid through DBT into bank or post office accounts. If work is not given on time, workers will still be able to get unemployment allowance.
The government has also said MGNREGA work will not stop suddenly. Existing work will keep going until the new Act begins on July 1, 2026. Work already started under MGNREGA on June 30 will be carried over into the new system. The old e-KYC verified job cards will stay valid for now until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued. People without job cards can still register at the Gram Panchayat level.
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How the change will be managed
The draft rules also set up new bodies to run the system better. These include the National Level Steering Committee and the Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council. The plan also includes rules for grievance redressal, wage payment, administrative spending, and how extra costs will be handled. The government says these draft rules were issued on 22.05.2026 and published in the e-Gazette for a 30-day public consultation.
A special transitional rule set is meant to make the shift from MGNREGA smooth. The government has also shared a list of allowed works with states and Union Territories and asked them to suggest more work based on local needs. It has said June 2026 labour budgets have already been approved so work can keep moving without a break.
The Centre says the new programme will push employment, rural development, and village self-reliance in a more modern way. The draft rules are now open for comments, and the final framework will come after that consultation is done.
