A parliamentary committee led by a Congress MP has scheduled a meeting on December 29 to discuss the recently passed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Bill and compare it with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This move is perceived as an escalation of the political contention surrounding the new law, drawing protests from members of the ruling NDA.
The agenda of the Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj includes a briefing by the Rural Development Ministry on the VB-G RAM G Bill and a comparison with MGNREGA. Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, a Congress MP, chairs the committee.
BJP MPs on the panel have expressed surprise that the meeting is scheduled before the bill receives Presidential assent and gazette notification, which are required for it to become law. Vivek Thakur, a BJP MP and committee member, questioned the decision, suggesting a "non-application of mind". NDA members, holding a majority in the committee, may raise the issue with Speaker Om Birla. Another BJP member argued that the committee should focus on scrutinizing the implementation and making recommendations rather than debating a bill so recently passed by Parliament. They view the comparison with the UPA-era scheme as a deliberate politicization of the issue by the Congress and other opposition parties.
The VB-G RAM G Bill, passed by Parliament on December 18, 2025, aims to replace MGNREGA. The government asserts that the new bill will enhance rural development, improve transparency and accountability, and provide enhanced security and administrative provisions. The opposition, however, claims the initiative seeks to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name and dilute the effectiveness of the employment scheme by burdening state governments.
The VB-G RAM G Bill increases the guaranteed wage employment to 125 days per financial year for unskilled workers, compared to MGNREGA's 100 days. It empowers gram panchayats and sabhas to plan and identify suitable projects. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stated that the bill will lead to comprehensive village development, provide ample employment, uphold the dignity of the poor, and offer additional protection to vulnerable groups. Focus areas include water security, rural infrastructure development, and mitigating extreme weather events.
Under MGNREGA, the central government covered 100% of wage costs, but the VB-G RAM G scheme operates as a centrally sponsored scheme, with states bearing 40% of the costs. Himalayan, North-Eastern states, and Union Territories will bear 10% of the costs. The Centre alleges that MGNREGA suffered from corruption, with funds not always used for designated jobs. The VB-G RAM G scheme will be supervised by a Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council. Unlike MGNREGA, the new bill does not guarantee year-round employment and imposes a 60-day ban during peak farming seasons. While MGNREGA was demand-driven, VB-G RAM G is supply-driven with capped allocations.
The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name has also drawn criticism. The government's lack of a clear explanation for the name change has fueled the opposition's concerns. Despite the controversy, the government maintains that the new law retains a legal work guarantee while expanding opportunities and building rural infrastructure. They aim for rural jobs to contribute to village development alongside wage payment aligning with national development goals like Viksit Bharat 2047. Protests have extended beyond Parliament, with civil society groups urging a rollback of the bill. The real impact of VB-G RAM G will be evident upon implementation, expected from April 2026.
