Lok Sabha Question No. 251 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Replacement of MGNREGA with VB-G RAM-G Act
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 251 ANSWERED ON 10/03/2026

## REPLACEMENT OF MGNREGA WITH VB-G RAM-G ACT

*251. Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has held any formal consultation with the States to replace Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Act  (MGNREGA)  with  Viksit  Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAMG) Act and put the financial burden of forty per cent of the wages onto the States, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted any  assessment regarding additional financial burden (about Rupees 4,000 crore annually) on States like Chhattisgarh due to the same and its repercussion on their other development budgets;
- (c) the details of average work days per household in the country during the last five years including Chhattisgarh; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to achieve the target of 125 days  without  additional  budgetary  provision  and  restore  the system  of  100  per  cent  payment  of  wages  by  the  Central Government?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (d):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *251  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON 10.03.2026  REGARDING  'REPLACEMENT OF  MGNREGA  WITH  VB-G RAM-G ACT'

(a) & (b):   In the past twenty years, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  has contributed  in  providing  guaranteed  wage-employment  to  rural households ensuring wage income. However, further strengthening had  become  necessary  in  view  of  the  significant  socio-economic transformation witnessed in the rural landscape driven by widespread  coverage  of the social security interventions  and saturation-oriented implementation of major Government schemes. Similarly, rural connectivity, rural housing, electrification, financial inclusion  and  digital  access  have  deepened,  the  workforce  has diversified,  and  aspirations  have  shifted  towards  better  incomes, growth-oriented  infrastructure,  sustainable  livelihoods  and  greater climate resilience.

Wide consultations were held with all important stakeholders like the States, MGNREGA workers, functionaries, Civil society Organizations, experts etc to strengthen the implementation of the Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS,  resulting  in  notable  improvements  in participation, transparency and digital governance. A brainstorming session  under  the  chairpersonship  of  the  Union  Minister  of  Rural Development was also held to seek suggestions and views of the stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of MGNREGA.  A range of administrative and technological reforms have been introduced by the Ministry based on consultations and feedback obtained from the States.

However,  deeper  structural issues persisted. Monitoring in several states revealed gaps, including work not being done on the ground,  expenditure  not  matching  physical  progress,  the  use  of machines in labour-intensive work, and frequent bypassing of digital attendance  systems.  Since  the  overall  architecture  of  Mahatma Gandhi NREGS had reached its limits, it warranted reassessment in light of evolving rural realities.

Against this backdrop and to cater to the changing aspirations, the need for stronger convergence  was  felt to establish an integrated, Whole-of-Government rural development framework covering several complementary Government schemes. Additionally, it was felt essential that rural infrastructure creation must transition from  fragmented  provisioning  to  a  coherent  and  future-oriented approach which also necessitated that resources are distributed in a

fair  manner  to  reduce  disparities  and  promote  inclusive  growth across all rural areas of the country based on objective parameters.

With regard to the Centre-State financial sharing pattern under the  new  Act,it  is  stated  that,  historically,  most  of  the  major  rural employment schemes in the country have operated on shared funding models between the Centre and the States. For example:

- I.  The  National  Rural  Employment  Programme  (NREP)  followed  a 75:25 sharing pattern.
- II.  The  Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) adopted a 50:50 model.
- III. The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) operated on an 80:20 basis.
- IV. Schemes such as SGRY, EAS, and JGSY were also implemented on a Centre-State sharing pattern, generally in the ratio of 75:25.

Presently,  almost  all  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  (CSS) across sectors are being implemented on the 60:40 sharing model. The 60:40 pattern adopted under this Act is therefore consistent with the broader framework of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Here  it  is  also  stated  that  for  the  financial  year  2026-27, a  provision of ₹95,692.31 crore has been made for the Central share for Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), representing the largest allocation ever for rural employment programme at budget estimate stage. With the inclusion of  the  corresponding  estimated  State  share,  the  total  programme outlay  is  likely  to  exceed  ₹1.51  lakh  crore,  which  is  expected  to significantly accelerate rural transformation, large-scale employment generation and income enhancement in rural areas.

This  model  promotes  cooperative federalism  by  making  States active partners in rural development.

Further, special protective provisions have been made for NorthEastern and  Himalayan  States  and Union Territory (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir), where a 90:10 CentreState sharing pattern applies.

In addition, the Act clearly provides that in the event of natural disasters,  pandemics,  or  other  extraordinary  circumstances,  State Governments may recommend special operational relaxations to the

Centre. The Central Government is empowered to allow expansion of permissible  works,  relaxation  in  documentation  procedures,  and temporary enhancement of employment provisions in such situations. The framework is thus responsive, flexible, and sensitive to emerging needs.

Overall,  the  funding  pattern  is  designed  to  balance  fiscal responsibility,  State  participation  and  national  rural  development priorities.

- (c):     State/Union Territory (UT)-wise, including Chhattisgarh, details of  average  days  of  employment  provided  per  household  under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 are given at Annexure.
- (d):    The primary objective of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, is to align the rural development framework with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047  by providing  an  enhanced  statutory  wage  employment guarantee of one hundred and twenty-five days in each financial year to such rural households whose  adult members  volunteer  to undertake unskilled manual work, thereby enabling them to participate  more  effectively  in  the  expanded  livelihood  security framework.  As  Viksit  Bharat  G  RAM  G  retains  the  demand  driven nature of the program, the workers are entitled to avail the guarantee of 125 days given under the Act.

The  Ministry  has  also  launched  a  large  scale  information, education  and  communication  campaign  to  generate  awareness about  the  provisions  of  the  Act  and  to  ensure  that  adequate employment opportunities are provided to rural households as per their demand.

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## Annexure referred to in the reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 251 dated 10.03.2026.

| State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   | State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   | State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   | State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   | State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   | State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   | State/UT-wise details of average days of employment provided per household under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS in the last five financial years.   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SI. No.                                                                                                                                   | State/UT                                                                                                                                  | 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25                                                                                                   | 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25                                                                                                   | 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25                                                                                                   | 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25                                                                                                   | 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25                                                                                                   |
| 1                                                                                                                                         | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                            | 54.41                                                                                                                                     | 51.66                                                                                                                                     | 52.27                                                                                                                                     | 54.89                                                                                                                                     | 51.62                                                                                                                                     |
| 2                                                                                                                                         | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                         | 56.72                                                                                                                                     | 61.18                                                                                                                                     | 55.76                                                                                                                                     | 59.52                                                                                                                                     | 67.9                                                                                                                                      |
| 3                                                                                                                                         | Assam                                                                                                                                     | 36.32                                                                                                                                     | 33.48                                                                                                                                     | 34.22                                                                                                                                     | 38.92                                                                                                                                     | 37.16                                                                                                                                     |
| 4                                                                                                                                         | Bihar                                                                                                                                     | 44.65                                                                                                                                     | 37.75                                                                                                                                     | 47.16                                                                                                                                     | 45.77                                                                                                                                     | 48.87                                                                                                                                     |
| 5                                                                                                                                         | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                              | 60.15                                                                                                                                     | 59.29                                                                                                                                     | 51.48                                                                                                                                     | 51.54                                                                                                                                     | 51.68                                                                                                                                     |
| 6                                                                                                                                         | Goa                                                                                                                                       | 26.28                                                                                                                                     | 28.56                                                                                                                                     | 25.5                                                                                                                                      | 20.68                                                                                                                                     | 24.73                                                                                                                                     |
| 7                                                                                                                                         | Gujarat                                                                                                                                   | 42.52                                                                                                                                     | 49.67                                                                                                                                     | 45.29                                                                                                                                     | 49.55                                                                                                                                     | 47.53                                                                                                                                     |
| 8                                                                                                                                         | Haryana                                                                                                                                   | 39.31                                                                                                                                     | 36.26                                                                                                                                     | 31.35                                                                                                                                     | 33.61                                                                                                                                     | 34.11                                                                                                                                     |
| 9                                                                                                                                         | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                          | 52.81                                                                                                                                     | 52.48                                                                                                                                     | 47.6                                                                                                                                      | 51.08                                                                                                                                     | 55.05                                                                                                                                     |
| 10                                                                                                                                        | Jammu And Kashmir                                                                                                                         | 54.32                                                                                                                                     | 56.06                                                                                                                                     | 43.69                                                                                                                                     | 54.63                                                                                                                                     | 55.91                                                                                                                                     |
| 11                                                                                                                                        | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                 | 46.35                                                                                                                                     | 45.27                                                                                                                                     | 44.31                                                                                                                                     | 50.22                                                                                                                                     | 49.92                                                                                                                                     |
| 12                                                                                                                                        | Karnataka                                                                                                                                 | 49.09                                                                                                                                     | 48.21                                                                                                                                     | 42.52                                                                                                                                     | 46.22                                                                                                                                     | 45.05                                                                                                                                     |
| 13                                                                                                                                        | Kerala                                                                                                                                    | 63.25                                                                                                                                     | 64.41                                                                                                                                     | 62.26                                                                                                                                     | 67.7                                                                                                                                      | 66.17                                                                                                                                     |
| 14                                                                                                                                        | Ladakh                                                                                                                                    | 65.7                                                                                                                                      | 59.78                                                                                                                                     | 57.86                                                                                                                                     | 62.34                                                                                                                                     | 66.92                                                                                                                                     |
| 15                                                                                                                                        | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                            | 61.84                                                                                                                                     | 57.95                                                                                                                                     | 50.02                                                                                                                                     | 48.85                                                                                                                                     | 49.14                                                                                                                                     |
| 16                                                                                                                                        | Maharashtra                                                                                                                               | 40.34                                                                                                                                     | 40.54                                                                                                                                     | 37.15                                                                                                                                     | 47.41                                                                                                                                     | 53.92                                                                                                                                     |
| 17                                                                                                                                        | Manipur                                                                                                                                   | 60.4                                                                                                                                      | 54.5                                                                                                                                      | 20.72                                                                                                                                     | 30.57                                                                                                                                     | 46.56                                                                                                                                     |
| 18                                                                                                                                        | Meghalaya                                                                                                                                 | 71.53                                                                                                                                     | 73.72                                                                                                                                     | 60.35                                                                                                                                     | 66.38                                                                                                                                     | 68.3                                                                                                                                      |
| 19                                                                                                                                        | Mizoram                                                                                                                                   | 92.94                                                                                                                                     | 94.65                                                                                                                                     | 93.64                                                                                                                                     | 93.24                                                                                                                                     | 94.62                                                                                                                                     |
| 20                                                                                                                                        | Nagaland                                                                                                                                  | 45.91                                                                                                                                     | 46.48                                                                                                                                     | 46.78                                                                                                                                     | 43.9                                                                                                                                      | 44.51                                                                                                                                     |
| 21                                                                                                                                        | Odisha                                                                                                                                    | 55.51                                                                                                                                     | 56.91                                                                                                                                     | 55.5                                                                                                                                      | 55.9                                                                                                                                      | 51.02                                                                                                                                     |
| 22                                                                                                                                        | Punjab                                                                                                                                    | 39.52                                                                                                                                     | 37.88                                                                                                                                     | 37.97                                                                                                                                     | 41.34                                                                                                                                     | 37.63                                                                                                                                     |
| 23                                                                                                                                        | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                 | 61.06                                                                                                                                     | 59.92                                                                                                                                     | 56.28                                                                                                                                     | 58.75                                                                                                                                     | 53.79                                                                                                                                     |
| 24                                                                                                                                        | Sikkim                                                                                                                                    | 57.6                                                                                                                                      | 54.09                                                                                                                                     | 54.06                                                                                                                                     | 56.58                                                                                                                                     | 56.57                                                                                                                                     |
| 25                                                                                                                                        | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                | 50.22                                                                                                                                     | 50.95                                                                                                                                     | 50.96                                                                                                                                     | 59.44                                                                                                                                     | 46.86                                                                                                                                     |
| 26                                                                                                                                        | Telangana                                                                                                                                 | 50.77                                                                                                                                     | 50.31                                                                                                                                     | 44.56                                                                                                                                     | 47.72                                                                                                                                     | 45.82                                                                                                                                     |
| 27                                                                                                                                        | Tripura                                                                                                                                   | 74.66                                                                                                                                     | 71.85                                                                                                                                     | 59.92                                                                                                                                     | 63.16                                                                                                                                     | 59.82                                                                                                                                     |
| 28                                                                                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                             | 41.84                                                                                                                                     | 41.95                                                                                                                                     | 44.44                                                                                                                                     | 50.37                                                                                                                                     | 51.55                                                                                                                                     |
| 29                                                                                                                                        | Uttarakhand                                                                                                                               | 46.42                                                                                                                                     | 42.42                                                                                                                                     | 41.2                                                                                                                                      | 41.75                                                                                                                                     | 43.96                                                                                                                                     |
| 30                                                                                                                                        | West Bengal                                                                                                                               | 51.98                                                                                                                                     | 47.94                                                                                                                                     | 23.24                                                                                                                                     | 21.69                                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                                         |
| 31                                                                                                                                        | Andaman and Nicobar                                                                                                                       | 33.77                                                                                                                                     | 23.57                                                                                                                                     | 27.64                                                                                                                                     | 28.73                                                                                                                                     | 28.97                                                                                                                                     |
| 32                                                                                                                                        | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                                                         | 50.64                                                                                                                                     | 64.29                                                                                                                                     |
| 33                                                                                                                                        | Lakshadweep                                                                                                                               | 32.15                                                                                                                                     | 29.96                                                                                                                                     | 45.74                                                                                                                                     | 46.8                                                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                                         |
| 34                                                                                                                                        | Puducherry                                                                                                                                | 22.06                                                                                                                                     | 16.02                                                                                                                                     | 19.61                                                                                                                                     | 41.69                                                                                                                                     | 22.95                                                                                                                                     |
| National                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                           | 51.54                                                                                                                                     | 50.07                                                                                                                                     | 47.84                                                                                                                                     | 52.07                                                                                                                                     | 50.24                                                                                                                                     |

As per NREGASoft

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