Viksit Bharat Guarantee: A Bold Update to Rural Employment

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 aims to replace MGNREGA with a modern framework for rural employment. It promises 125 days of wage work annually per household and prioritizes water security, infrastructure, and climate resilience within six months of implementation.

In a significant legislative move, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The bill proposes to replace the current MGNREGA framework with a more modern and integrated approach to rural employment.

The proposed law guarantees 125 days of wage employment annually for rural households engaging in unskilled manual work. Opposition members, including Congress's Priyanka Gandhi, have voiced strong objections to the bill, chiefly due to the exclusion of Mahatma Gandhi's name, arguing for the bill's scrutiny by a parliamentary panel.

The Rural Development Ministry states that the bill aims to enhance employment, transparency, and accountability while fostering durable rural infrastructure. As part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission, it focuses on water security, core infrastructure, and mitigating extreme weather impacts, all within a coordinated national development strategy.

(With inputs from agencies.)