24 States, U.T.s set aside funds for new rural jobs scheme

24 States, U.T.s Set Aside Funds for New Rural Jobs Scheme — UPSC Study Note

1. At a Glance

• The Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (commonly VB-G RAM G Act or VB-GRAM(G) Act) replaces the MGNREGA, 2005 with effect from 1 July 2026. [S1][S2]
• The Act is the largest statutory overhaul of India's rural employment guarantee architecture in two decades, raising the employment entitlement from 100 to 125 days per rural household per year. [S1]
• At least 24 States and Union Territories have already earmarked funds for the scheme even before the Centre notified the State-wise normative allocation formula — a constitutionally significant federal dynamic. [S4]
• Directly relevant to GS-II (welfare schemes, Centre-State relations) and GS-III (inclusive growth, employment, rural development).

2. Why in the News

• March 2026: Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Rajya Sabha that 27 States/UTs are making budgetary provisions for the new scheme; he cited specific allocations for 24 of them totalling over ₹31,000 crore. [S4]
• The triggering news angle: Centre has not yet notified the formula under Section 4(5) of the Act for determining State-wise normative allocations, forcing States to use past MGNREGA expenditure as the baseline. [S4]
• Karnataka was flagged as the only major outlier refusing to earmark funds; even Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh — which formally opposed the Act — allocated ₹143 crore. [S4]
• The Act is set to commence nationally on 1 July 2026, making the fund-allocation exercise urgent. [S1]

3. Background & Evolution

Predecessor: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) — the direct statutory predecessor; the new Act supersedes it entirely. [S1]

4. Core Static Facts

Scheme Identity - Full name: Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 - Common acronyms: VB-G RAM G; VB-GRAM(G) - Implementing ministry: Ministry of Rural Development [S1] - Nodal minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Union Rural Development Minister) [S4] - Replaces: MGNREGA, 2005 (repealed w.e.f. 1 July 2026) [S1]

Employment Entitlement - Days guaranteed: 125 days/rural household/year (up from 100 under MGNREGA) [S1] - Eligibility: Adult members of rural households who volunteer for unskilled manual work [S1] - No-work (negative) period: 60 days aggregated — to ensure agricultural labour availability during peak sowing/harvesting seasons [S1]

Unemployment Allowance - Payable if employment not provided within the stipulated period; kicks in after 15 days of non-provision [S1] - Removed earlier "dis-entitlement" provisions present in MGNREGA

Financial Architecture - Centre's share (2026-27 Union Budget): ₹95,652 crore (PIB: ₹95,692.31 crore) — largest-ever allocation for a rural employment programme at Budget Estimate stage [S1][S4] - State share: 40% of total scheme expenditure [S4] - Exception: Northeastern States, hilly States, and certain UTs (e.g., Jammu & Kashmir) receive a relaxation on the 40% State share [S4] - Total programme outlay (Centre + State combined): likely to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore [S1] - 24 States/UTs earmarked funds before normative formula notification; combined allocation: >₹31,000 crore [S4]

Administrative Provisions - Administrative expenditure ceiling: Raised from 6% to 9% (covers staffing, training, remuneration, technical capacity) [S1]

Works — 4 Thematic Domains 1. Water security 2. Rural infrastructure 3. Livelihood-related infrastructure 4. Mitigation of extreme weather events [S1]

Planning Architecture - Works originate from Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) — prepared participatorily at GP level and approved by Gram Sabha [S1] - VGPPs digitally integrated with PM Gati Shakti national platform [S1]

Key Statutory Provision - Section 4(5) — mandates Union Government to notify the formula for State-wise normative allocations; yet to be notified as of March 2026 [S4]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Central allocation of ₹95,652 crore for 2026-27 is the single largest rural employment budget allocation in India's history, signalling scale of intent. [S1][S4]
• Raising entitlement from 100 to 125 days increases the aggregate wage bill; combined with higher admin ceiling (9%), total programme cost is projected to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore. [S1]
• Shift to four thematic domains (water, infrastructure, livelihoods, climate resilience) is intended to enhance asset quality and economic returns over pure wage-transfer. [S1]
• States using MGNREGA past expenditure as baseline creates fiscal planning uncertainty at the sub-national level, especially for fiscally stressed States. [S4]

Social

• Demand-driven nature retained: any rural household adult seeking work remains entitled; no exclusion criteria added. [S1]
• Restoration of unemployment allowance (vs. earlier MGNREGA dis-entitlements) strengthens the social protection floor. [S1]
• The 40% State co-financing requirement may disproportionately strain revenue-deficit States, risking reduced access for the rural poor in poorer regions. [S4]
• NE/hilly States and J&K receive relaxed State-share terms — implicit equity correction for lower fiscal capacity. [S4]

Environmental

• Explicit thematic mandate for works targeting mitigation of extreme weather events — a legislative first in rural employment law, aligning with climate adaptation goals. [S1]
• Water security as a priority domain connects to groundwater recharge, watershed management, and drought-proofing — directly linked to Jal Jeevan Mission outcomes. [S1]

Legal / Constitutional

• Enacted under Parliament's legislative competence over labour (Concurrent List, Entry 24) and central schemes; MGNREGA (2005) repealed simultaneously. [S1][S2]
• Section 4(5) creates a statutory obligation on the Centre to notify the normative allocation formula — its non-notification as of March 2026 creates legal and fiscal ambiguity for States. [S4]
• The 40% State cost-sharing clause raises cooperative federalism questions; States opposing the Act (e.g., Himachal Pradesh) argue it was imposed without adequate consultation. [S4]

Administrative

• Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) — bottom-up planning anchored in Gram Sabha approval — strengthens Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) role in implementation. [S1]
• Integration with PM Gati Shakti digital platform enables GIS-based convergence planning but requires rural digital capacity upgrades. [S1]
• Karnataka's non-allocation and Section 4(5) non-notification are twin administrative bottlenecks that could delay smooth rollout from 1 July 2026. [S4]
• Administrative ceiling rise to 9% addresses a long-standing MGNREGA criticism of under-resourced implementation machinery. [S1]

Ethical / Governance

• Minister citing Himachal Pradesh's allocation despite its political opposition reflects political pressure dynamics overriding stated policy disagreement. [S4]
• States using MGNREGA past expenditure as a proxy allocation baseline — in the absence of the official formula — signals ad hoc governance and lack of preparatory coordination. [S4]
• The scale of the scheme demands robust social audit mechanisms (inherited from MGNREGA) to prevent leakage at the 125-day expanded entitlement level. [S1]

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• December 16, 2025: VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha. [S2]
• December 2025: Presidential assent granted; Act notified. [S3]
• December 2025: PIB backgrounder released; Central Budget share for 2026-27 set at ₹95,692.31 crore — "largest-ever" at BE stage. [S1][S5]
• February 2026 (Union Budget 2026-27): Centre formally allocated ₹95,652 crore as its share for VB-GRAM(G). [S4]
• March 2026: Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated in Rajya Sabha that 27 States/UTs making provisions; 24 States/UTs have earmarked >₹31,000 crore combined. [S4]
• March 2026: Section 4(5) normative allocation formula remains un-notified by the Centre — States using MGNREGA past expenditure as provisional baseline. [S4]
• Effective date: Act to replace MGNREGA across all rural areas from 1 July 2026. [S1]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 replaces MGNREGA, 2005 with effect from 1 July 2026. [S1]
2. Employment entitlement under the new Act: 125 days/rural household/year (MGNREGA: 100 days). [S1]
3. The Act mandates a 60-day aggregated no-work period to protect availability of agricultural labour. [S1]
4. Unemployment allowance becomes payable if employment is not provided within the stipulated period; trigger period: 15 days. [S1]
5. States must bear 40% of scheme expenditure; exception: northeastern States, hilly States, and certain UTs including J&K. [S4]
6. Administrative expenditure ceiling raised from 6% (MGNREGA) to 9% (VB-GRAM) under the new Act. [S1]
7. The four thematic domains for works: (i) water security, (ii) rural infrastructure, (iii) livelihood-related infrastructure, (iv) mitigation of extreme weather events. [S1]
8. Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) approved by Gram Sabha are the planning entry point for all works. [S1]
9. VGPPs are digitally integrated with the PM Gati Shakti national platform. [S1]
10. Section 4(5) of the Act mandates the Centre to notify the State-wise normative allocation formula — un-notified as of March 2026. [S4]
11. Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development (not Ministry of Labour). [S1]
12. Centre's Union Budget 2026-27 allocation (Central share): ₹95,652 crore — largest-ever for a rural employment scheme at Budget Estimate stage. [S1][S4]
13. Combined total programme outlay (Centre + States) projected to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore. [S1]
14. 24 States/UTs earmarked combined State-share funds of >₹31,000 crore before the Centre notified the normative formula. [S4]
15. Karnataka was identified as the only major State not earmarking funds for the scheme as of March 2026. [S4]

8. Mains Relevance

GS Paper Mapping

Plausible Mains Question Stems

1. "The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 represents a paradigm shift from demand-driven wage support to asset-creating rural development. Critically examine this claim in light of the Act's design features and implementation challenges." (GS-III)

2. "The requirement that States bear 40% of the expenditure under the VB-G RAM G Act raises questions about cooperative federalism and fiscal capacity of sub-national governments. Discuss." (GS-II)

3. "With MGNREGA being repealed from July 2026, evaluate the continuities and departures in India's rural employment guarantee architecture and their implications for rural livelihoods." (GS-II/III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. Wrong days: Candidates often state the new Act still guarantees 100 days — it is 125 days. The 100-day figure is MGNREGA.

2. Wrong ministry: This is under the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Labour and Employment (which handles urban employment, ESI, etc.).

3. Confusing repeal date: The Act received Presidential assent in December 2025 but MGNREGA stands repealed only from 1 July 2026 — not from the date of assent.

4. State share exception: Candidates generalise the 40% State share to all States. Northeastern States, hilly States, and certain UTs including J&K receive a relaxation on this cost-sharing ratio.

5. Section 4(5) confusion: This section is about the Centre's obligation to notify normative allocation formula — not about State obligations. Its non-notification is a current implementation bottleneck.

11. Sources

• [S1] "VB-GRAM Act 2025 Guarantees 125 Days of Rural Employment" — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2241357 — (Tier 1: pib.gov.in)
• [S2] "The Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025" — https://prsindia.org/billtrack/the-viksit-bharat-%E2%80%93-guarantee-for-rozgar-and-ajeevika-mission-gramin-vb-%E2%80%93-g-ram-g-bill-2025 — (Tier 1: prsindia.org)
• [S3] "President gives assent to Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Bill, 2025" — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2207187 — (Tier 1: pib.gov.in)
• [S4] "24 States, U.T.s set aside funds for new rural jobs scheme" — The Hindu, 20 March 2026 (article excerpt provided as fallback primary source) — (Tier 4: thehindu.com)
• [S5] "Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act 2025 — Backgrounder" — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/dec/doc20251216733301.pdf — (Tier 1: pib.gov.in)