The Centre published draft rules under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VBG RAM G) on Saturday for public consultation ahead of the nationwide rollout. According to reports from Business Standard, the rules were framed under Section 33 and other relevant provisions of the Act and have been placed in the public domain to facilitate wider stakeholder consultation before finalisation. The VB-G RAM G Act was notified on May 11, 2026, replacing the earlier Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) framework in a phased manner. The draft rules are available on the e-Gazette portal, where individuals, stakeholders, organisations and institutions can submit objections or suggestions by June 21, 2026.
The proposed rules cover multiple operational aspects of the new rural employment guarantee scheme. As reported by Business Standard, the draft rules address transitional provisions, the National Level Steering Committee, the Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council, administrative expenses, grievance redressal mechanisms, payment of wages and unemployment allowance, and expenditure incurred in excess of normative allocations. These provisions specifically include expenses for Union Territories without legislatures. The Grievance Redressal Rules, 2026 propose a technology-enabled and time-bound grievance management mechanism with provisions for digital registration, tracking, escalation and appeals.
The Transitional Provisions Rules, 2026 are intended to facilitate a smooth migration from the MGNREGA regime to the VB–G RAM G scheme, and to improve transparency, accountability and citizen-centric governance under the new framework. According to Business Standard, these provisions ensure continuity of ongoing work, settlement of liabilities, transfer of records, the validity of e-KYC-verified job cards, and protection of workers' rights during the transition period until States formally notify and operationalise the new scheme. The rules establish a comprehensive framework for managing the transition from the old to the new rural employment guarantee system.
Officials in the Ministry of Rural Development stated that the rules are aimed at establishing the institutional, administrative, financial, and governance architecture needed to implement the new rural livelihoods and employment guarantee programme. As reported by Business Standard, the consultation process seeks to ensure participatory governance and enable constructive feedback from states, institutions, experts, civil society organisations, and the public. The wider consultation exercise reflects the government's commitment to stakeholder engagement in shaping the implementation architecture of the jobs programme. The VB-G RAM G framework is expected to form the backbone of the Centre's rural employment and livelihood strategy, with a focus on strengthening rural livelihoods, employment generation and sustainable rural development.
