The Union Government has allocated a record ₹95,692 crore for rural employment under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G Act], 2025 for FY 2026–27, marking the highest-ever Budget Estimate for a rural employment programme in India.

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• The Government of India has allocated ₹95,692 crore under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 for the financial year 2026–27, making it the largest Budget Estimate ever provided for a rural employment programme in the country.
• The announcement was made by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening rural livelihoods and employment generation.
• The Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) as India’s statutory rural employment programme.
• A major feature of the new legislation is the enhancement of the employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days of wage employment in a financial year for every rural household demanding work.
• The Act expands the scope of permissible works by prioritising water conservation, water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood assets, climate resilience, and mitigation of extreme weather events, creating durable community assets while generating employment.
• The programme promotes convergence with Central and State Government schemes, enabling better coordination of public resources and improving the effectiveness of rural development initiatives.
• The enhanced allocation and broader scope are expected to increase rural incomes, strengthen livelihood security, improve agricultural productivity, and support sustainable development in rural areas.
• The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 reflects India’s long-term strategy of combining employment generation with infrastructure creation, environmental sustainability, and climate-resilient rural development.