India Releases ₹25,863 Crore for VB-GRAM G as States Brace for Centralized Planning
Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Jul 5
India Releases ₹25,863 Crore for VB-GRAM G as States Brace for Centralized Planning
3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Jul 5
Summary
₹25,863 crore was released to all states as the first instalment for the new VB-GRAM G rural employment programme, which took effect on July 1 and replaces MGNREGA.
Uttar Pradesh received the largest share at ₹3,210.76 crore, followed by Andhra Pradesh at ₹2,545.5 crore, Rajasthan at ₹2,274.37 crore, Tamil Nadu at ₹2,176.84 crore and Kerala at ₹925.33 crore.
Work under the scheme will start with a Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan built from a full village asset inventory and GIS-based mapping on platforms including ISRO's Yuktdhara and PM Gati Shakti.
Critics say that process shifts the programme from MGNREGA's bottom-up, demand-driven model to a centrally designed system that could force states and gram panchayats to follow New Delhi's priorities.
With states now paying 40%, can the new job scheme deliver its promised wage and work-day hikes nationwide?
Has India's legal right to work been replaced by a target-driven development program with a new name?
Will mandatory face-authentication lock out India's most vulnerable workers from their guaranteed employment?
India's VB-G-RAM-G Act: Overhauling Rural Employment Guarantee for 2026–27 with ₹95,692 Crore Allocation
Overview
India has launched the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) on July 1, 2026, following the President’s assent to the new Act. This marks a major shift from the earlier MGNREGA, aiming to reshape rural employment by aligning it with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The program is designed to improve how rural jobs are guaranteed, financed, and managed, focusing on stronger accountability and better outcomes for rural communities. This transformation reflects India’s commitment to sustainable rural development and economic growth.