Centre Sets July 1, 2026 for VB-GRAMG Rollout to Replace MGNREGA
Centre Sets July 1, 2026 for VB-GRAMG Rollout to Replace MGNREGA
The government unveils VB-GRAMG, replacing MGNREGA from July 1, 2026, with 125 days of paid work and a fixed funding framework for rural jobs.
The Centre on Monday notified the rollout of the VB-GRAMG Act, a new rural employment framework that will replace the MGNREGA. It guarantees every eligible rural household up to 125 days of paid unskilled manual work in a financial year, marking a 25-day increase over the current scheme. The nationwide implementation is set for July 1, 2026.
The government says the funding model will change: instead of an open-ended centre release based on ground-level demand, a fixed state-wise normative allocation will set a ceiling for each financial year. States will need to prepare their systems, staff, and schemes to roll out VB-GRAMG.
MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per rural household and required the Centre to release funds based on state plans. VB-GRAMG increases days and formalizes funding, aiming for more predictable budgeting.
The VB-GRAMG Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2025, cleared by the Lok Sabha on December 18, and given presidential assent on December 21, 2025. The Ministry of Rural Development notified the date for nationwide implementation.
For rural workers, the change promises a longer period of guaranteed work with a clearer funding path, though the transition will depend on state readiness and effective delivery.
