New Viksit Bharat Act Guarantees Rural Employment and Livelihoods by 2025
The new VB G RAM G Act, 2025, guarantees rural employment and livelihood, aiming for a developed India.
Photo by Nitish Gouda
The "Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB G RAM G Act, 2025" is a significant legislative initiative aimed at ensuring employment and livelihood security in rural areas. This Act guarantees 125 days of wage employment, focusing on durable asset creation for growth and resilience, water security, core rural infrastructure, and livelihood infrastructure for sustainable incomes.
It also emphasizes climate resilience and disaster preparedness, paving the way for developed Gram Panchayats and a 'Viksit Bharat'. This scheme is a crucial step towards poverty alleviation and rural development.
Key Facts
Act name: VB G RAM G Act, 2025
Guarantees 125 days of wage employment
Focuses on durable asset creation, water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, climate resilience, disaster preparedness
Aims for developed Gram Panchayats and Viksit Bharat
UPSC Exam Angles
Comparison with existing schemes (MGNREGA)
Constitutional provisions related to Right to Work and DPSP
Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in rural development
Economic implications: poverty alleviation, rural demand, asset creation
Environmental aspects: climate resilience, water security, sustainable development
Governance challenges in scheme implementation
Visual Insights
Viksit Bharat Act (2025) vs. MGNREGA (2005)
A comparative analysis highlighting the advancements and expanded scope of the new Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, relative to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.
| Feature | MGNREGA (2005) | VB G RAM G Act (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Days of Employment | 100 days | 125 days |
| Primary Focus | Wage employment, livelihood security, poverty alleviation | Wage employment, durable asset creation for growth & resilience, water security, core rural infra, livelihood infra, climate resilience, disaster preparedness, developed Gram Panchayats |
| Scope of Livelihood | Primarily wage-based, unskilled manual work | Broader livelihood security, sustainable incomes, asset-based livelihoods |
| Climate Resilience & Disaster Preparedness | Implicit in some asset creation (e.g., water harvesting) | Explicit and central objective, paving way for climate-resilient rural areas |
| Vision | Poverty alleviation, rural employment | Poverty alleviation, rural development, 'Viksit Bharat' through developed Gram Panchayats |
| Asset Creation | Focus on productive assets (water conservation, roads) | Emphasis on durable assets for growth, resilience, water security, core rural infrastructure, and livelihood infrastructure |
Projected Impact & Key Features of VB G RAM G Act, 2025
Key statistics and targets associated with the new Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, highlighting its scale and objectives.
- Guaranteed Employment Days
- 125 days
- Focus Areas
- Durable Asset Creation, Water Security, Rural Infrastructure, Livelihood Infrastructure, Climate Resilience, Disaster Preparedness
- Target: Developed Gram Panchayats
- All Gram Panchayats
- Estimated Annual Budget Allocation (FY 2025-26)
- ₹1.2 - 1.5 Lakh Crore (Projected)
Increased from 100 days under MGNREGA, providing enhanced income security for rural households.
Broader and more strategic focus than previous schemes, aiming for sustainable rural development and resilience.
The Act aims to transform all Gram Panchayats into 'Developed Gram Panchayats', signifying a holistic approach to local self-governance and development.
Reflects the expanded scope and increased guaranteed days, indicating a significant financial commitment to rural development. (Based on MGNREGA's historical budget and increased provisions).
More Information
Background
Latest Developments
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the 'Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB G RAM G Act, 2025': 1. It guarantees 125 days of wage employment per financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. 2. A primary focus of the Act is on creating durable assets for growth and resilience, including water security and core rural infrastructure. 3. Unlike previous rural employment schemes, this Act explicitly incorporates climate resilience and disaster preparedness as core objectives. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statement 1 is correct as the news explicitly mentions 'guarantees 125 days of wage employment'. Statement 2 is correct as the summary highlights 'focusing on durable asset creation for growth and resilience, water security, core rural infrastructure'. Statement 3 is also correct as the summary states 'It also emphasizes climate resilience and disaster preparedness', which is a significant explicit addition compared to the original MGNREGA framework, although MGNREGA works often contribute to these indirectly.
2. In the context of rural employment guarantee schemes in India, which of the following statements correctly differentiates the 'Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB G RAM G Act, 2025' from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)? A) VB G RAM G Act guarantees employment for 125 days, whereas MGNREGA guarantees 100 days. B) VB G RAM G Act focuses exclusively on individual beneficiary schemes, unlike MGNREGA's community asset focus. C) MGNREGA mandates the involvement of Gram Panchayats in planning and implementation, which is not a feature of VB G RAM G Act. D) VB G RAM G Act provides for unemployment allowance if work is not provided, a provision absent in MGNREGA.
- A.VB G RAM G Act guarantees employment for 125 days, whereas MGNREGA guarantees 100 days.
- B.VB G RAM G Act focuses exclusively on individual beneficiary schemes, unlike MGNREGA's community asset focus.
- C.MGNREGA mandates the involvement of Gram Panchayats in planning and implementation, which is not a feature of VB G RAM G Act.
- D.VB G RAM G Act provides for unemployment allowance if work is not provided, a provision absent in MGNREGA.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Option A is correct. The news explicitly states 125 days for VB G RAM G Act, while MGNREGA guarantees 100 days. Option B is incorrect; the news mentions 'durable asset creation' and 'core rural infrastructure', implying community assets, similar to MGNREGA. Option C is incorrect; the news mentions 'paving the way for developed Gram Panchayats', implying their crucial role. MGNREGA also mandates Gram Panchayat involvement. Option D is incorrect; MGNREGA already has a provision for unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days of application, and the news does not specify this for the new act, making it a plausible distractor but not a correct differentiator.
3. Which of the following Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are most directly aligned with the objectives of the 'Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB G RAM G Act, 2025'? 1. Article 39: The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood. 2. Article 41: The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement. 3. Article 43: The State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities. 4. Article 47: The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1, 2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Answer: D
The VB G RAM G Act aims to guarantee employment and livelihood security. Article 39 (adequate means of livelihood), Article 41 (right to work, public assistance in unemployment), and Article 43 (living wage, decent standard of life) are directly aligned with these core objectives. Article 47, by aiming to raise the standard of living and public health, is also aligned, as employment and livelihood security directly contribute to improved nutrition and living standards, and thus public health. Therefore, all four DPSP articles are relevant.
4. Which of the following is NOT a stated core objective or emphasis of the 'Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB G RAM G Act, 2025' as per the provided summary? A) Ensuring water security through asset creation. B) Promoting livelihood infrastructure for sustainable incomes. C) Facilitating direct cash transfers to landless agricultural labourers without work requirements. D) Enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness at the local level.
- A.Ensuring water security through asset creation.
- B.Promoting livelihood infrastructure for sustainable incomes.
- C.Facilitating direct cash transfers to landless agricultural labourers without work requirements.
- D.Enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness at the local level.
Show Answer
Answer: C
The news summary explicitly mentions: 'water security' (A), 'livelihood infrastructure for sustainable incomes' (B), and 'climate resilience and disaster preparedness' (D). The Act guarantees 'wage employment' and focuses on 'durable asset creation', implying work requirements. There is no mention of 'direct cash transfers... without work requirements' in the summary. This makes option C the incorrect statement regarding the Act's stated objectives.
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