Draft rules to implement VB-G RAMG Act now in public domain. india news
New Delhi: The government has put in the public domain draft rules to implement the Grow India – Employment and Livelihoods Mission (Rural) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAMG), laying down the roadmap for transition to the new rural employment program that will replace MNREGA from July 1 and outlines the institutional, financial, administrative and grievance redressal framework.The draft rules were published in the e-Gazette on Friday by the rural development ministry for wide public consultation for a period of 30 days before finalizing them.The Rural Development Ministry, in a review meeting on Saturday, advised the States/UTs to ensure timely completion of the ongoing works under MNREGA before the commencement of the revised framework. However, it was also emphasized that the operations ongoing till June 30 will be transferred under VB-G RAM G, a fact also emphasized in the transition rules.The rules also state that existing e-KYC-verified MNREGA job cards will remain temporarily valid until the new Rural Employment Guarantee Cards are issued, while new ones can also be opened if ongoing projects are inadequate to meet the labor demand.The ministry has issued 8 notifications of draft rules, covering transitional provisions, national level steering committee, Central Rural Employment Guarantee Council, parameters of standard allocation, expenditure incurred beyond standard allocation, administrative expenditure, grievance redressal and payment of wages and unemployment allowance.The central government will determine the standard allocation of funds for each state, for each financial year, based on a set of “objective parameters”.According to the Ministry, an indicative framework for classifying Gram Panchayats into A/B/C categories has also been shared with the States/UTs to facilitate planning and implementation under the revised framework.At a review meeting on Saturday, Secretary MoRD Rohit Kansal shared that the Labor Budget for the month of June has been approved for all States/UTs based on their estimated demand and a basic approval of Rs 26,971 crore has been released for wage, material, administrative and social audit unit components under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS to ensure seamless flow of funds and continuous implementation of works during the transition.The new law increases the annual employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days. Direct benefit transfers will continue for payment of salaries and unemployment allowance.The draft rules highlight that under the new framework, a Central Rural Employment Guarantee Council will be set up under the chairmanship of the Minister of Rural Development which will set up a central evaluation and monitoring system and advise the Central Government on the implementation of the law.A national level steering committee chaired by the Secretary Rural Development will provide high-level strategic monitoring for effective implementation and recommend decisions related to standard allocation to the states.According to the draft grievance redressal rules, states will set up a technically equipped “timely and multi-level grievance redressal mechanism” from the gram panchayat to the state level.