Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has strongly refuted claims that the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act will weaken the right to work in rural India, asserting that it will instead strengthen it. Chouhan made these remarks while accusing Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation about the Act.

Chouhan addressed concerns raised by the opposition, stating that the VB-G RAM G scheme would be implemented across all gram panchayats in the country, empowering them to create work plans. He dismissed allegations that the right to work was being taken away as "completely false". He clarified that the Act increases the guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125. Furthermore, he emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring timely payment of unemployment allowance within 15 days. "You gave rights on paper; we have strengthened them on the ground," Chouhan stated, contrasting the previous UPA government's approach with the current NDA government's focus on effective implementation.

The Congress party launched a 45-day "MGNREGA Bachao Sangram" on January 10, opposing the repeal of the UPA-era Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party demands the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA in its original rights-based form, including the authority of gram panchayats and the legal guarantee of work. Chouhan responded to these demands by stating that Congress leaders are weakening their own party by spreading falsehoods about the VB-G RAM G Act. He accused the Congress of abandoning its core ideals, asserting that the new law is rooted in the principle of "nation first" and aimed at holistic village development.

While the new Act has increased the guaranteed workdays, some experts have raised concerns about other aspects of the bill. Aruna Sharma, former secretary to the Government of India, pointed out that making the bill a centrally-sponsored one could make the employment guarantee subject to the availability of funds in the hands of the states. She argued that this effectively caps employment and does not adhere to the spirit of the right to work, as work may be provided only if funds are available. Under the MGNREGA scheme, it was a demand-driven right, where work had to be provided or an unemployment allowance paid if a household asked for work.

Chouhan countered these concerns by highlighting the government's increased spending on the scheme, stating that they spent around ₹9 lakh crore compared to the UPA government's ₹2 lakh crore. He also noted that of the nearly 10 crore assets created under the MGNREGA, around 8.5 crore were built during the Narendra Modi government's tenure.

The VB RAM G Bill also includes a provision to pause work for up to 60 days during peak agricultural sowing and harvest seasons, which the government says is intended to ensure labor availability for farming. Furthermore, the focus areas of work under the new bill will be water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood assets, and climate resilience, with all the power resting with the Centre. Sharma argues that this shift to select areas and kinds of work, along with its centralisation, has removed local need identification and universal application.