NEW DELHI: The Union Government on Tuesday introduced the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. The landmark legislation is set to repeal and replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, aligning rural labor with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Introducing the Bill, Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the new framework fulfills the vision of “Ram Rajya” by empowering rural households. A primary feature of the Bill is the enhancement of the statutory employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days of unskilled manual work per financial year for every rural household.
All projects will be aggregated into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, prioritizing water security, climate resilience, and core rural connectivity.
To prevent labor shortages during peak farming seasons, the Bill empowers states to notify a 60-day pause on works during sowing and harvesting periods.
Transitioning to a centrally sponsored scheme, the fund-sharing ratio is set at 60:40 for most states and 90:10 for Northeastern and Himalayan states.
The mission mandates AI-enabled fraud detection, biometric authentication, and real-time monitoring via geospatial systems.
The introduction faced strong resistance from Opposition members, who protested the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme and raised concerns over the increased financial burden on state governments.