UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — All workers shifted to VB-G RAM G; e-KYC is not mandatory, says Centre

Q1. The enhancement of the statutory guarantee of rural wage employment from 100 days to 125 days per household in a financial year was effected through which one of the following?

  • A. A 2025 amendment to the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005 notified by the Union Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, in force from 1 July 2026
  • C. A resolution of the National Level Steering Committee constituted for rural wage employment works
  • D. A notification issued under Schedule I of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA by the Union Cabinet in December 2025

Q2. With reference to the transition from the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005 to the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025, consider the following: 1. The guaranteed days of wage employment per rural household in a financial year have been raised from 100 to 125. 2. The ceiling on administrative expenditure has been raised from 6 per cent to 9 per cent of programme funds. 3. Every work sanctioned under the repealed Act stood terminated on the date of commencement, as no work taken up under the old law may continue in any circumstance. 4. Existing e-KYC-verified Job Cards continue to remain valid until Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The guaranteed days of wage employment per rural household in a financial year have been raised from 100 to 125.
  2. The ceiling on administrative expenditure has been raised from 6 per cent to 9 per cent of programme funds.
  3. Every work sanctioned under the repealed Act stood terminated on the date of commencement, as no work taken up under the old law may continue in any circumstance.
  4. Existing e-KYC-verified Job Cards continue to remain valid until Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q3. With reference to the Centre's clarification on e-KYC under the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025, consider the following: 1. A worker may place a demand for employment orally, in writing through the existing Form-6 framework, or through digital platforms. 2. Facilitation for completing pending e-KYC has been provided for, including at worksites wherever necessary. 3. e-KYC verification of workers is administered by the Unique Identification Authority of India, which is the nodal authority for implementing the rural employment guarantee law. 4. Persons not currently holding a Job Card may apply at the Gram Panchayat level for registration and issuance of a new card. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A worker may place a demand for employment orally, in writing through the existing Form-6 framework, or through digital platforms.
  2. Facilitation for completing pending e-KYC has been provided for, including at worksites wherever necessary.
  3. e-KYC verification of workers is administered by the Unique Identification Authority of India, which is the nodal authority for implementing the rural employment guarantee law.
  4. Persons not currently holding a Job Card may apply at the Gram Panchayat level for registration and issuance of a new card.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q4. Responsibility for facilitating completion of pending e-KYC of registered rural wage-employment workers rests primarily with which one of the following?

  • A. The State Governments, within the framework laid down by the Union Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. The Unique Identification Authority of India, acting through Common Service Centres under MeitY
  • C. The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, acting through District Panchayats in rural areas
  • D. The National Payments Corporation of India, through the Aadhaar-Based Payment Bridge System

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 with the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005: 1. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2025 by the Union Minister who simultaneously holds the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare portfolio. 2. Unlike the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005, which created a legally enforceable guarantee, the new framework operates as an executive scheme notified by the Union Government under the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. 3. Under the new law, Centre–State cost-sharing is in the ratio of 60:40 for general category States and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2025 by the Union Minister who simultaneously holds the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare portfolio.
  2. Unlike the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005, which created a legally enforceable guarantee, the new framework operates as an executive scheme notified by the Union Government under the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
  3. Under the new law, Centre–State cost-sharing is in the ratio of 60:40 for general category States and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. With reference to the legislative passage of the VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025, consider the following: 1. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 December 2025. 2. It was passed by both Houses of Parliament on 18 December 2025. 3. The resulting Act was brought into force across all rural areas of the country with effect from 1 July 2026. 4. The Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee after introduction and was cleared by the Rajya Sabha only in the Budget Session of 2026. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 December 2025.
  2. It was passed by both Houses of Parliament on 18 December 2025.
  3. The resulting Act was brought into force across all rural areas of the country with effect from 1 July 2026.
  4. The Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee after introduction and was cleared by the Rajya Sabha only in the Budget Session of 2026.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to e-KYC coverage among rural wage-employment workers as reported by the Union Government, consider the following: 1. e-KYC has been completed for about 15.89 crore workers in all. 2. Of about 10.84 crore active workers, roughly 10.27 crore — about 95 per cent — have completed e-KYC. 3. About 57 lakh active workers had e-KYC pending at the time of the Ministry's clarification. 4. As on 30 December 2025, e-KYC of active workers stood at 71.48 per cent, while Aadhaar seeding of active workers had reached only about 71 per cent, lagging behind the e-KYC figure. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. e-KYC has been completed for about 15.89 crore workers in all.
  2. Of about 10.84 crore active workers, roughly 10.27 crore — about 95 per cent — have completed e-KYC.
  3. About 57 lakh active workers had e-KYC pending at the time of the Ministry's clarification.
  4. As on 30 December 2025, e-KYC of active workers stood at 71.48 per cent, while Aadhaar seeding of active workers had reached only about 71 per cent, lagging behind the e-KYC figure.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. Among the following worker-database parameters reported for the rural wage employment guarantee programme, which one has recorded the highest level of coverage of active workers?

  • A. Aadhaar seeding of active workers on the programme database
  • B. e-KYC authentication completed for active workers on the programme database
  • C. Active workers enabled for wage credit through the Aadhaar-Based Payment System
  • D. Active workers issued the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards under the successor law

Q9. Under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005, the power to specify the wage rate payable to unskilled manual workers under the Act vested in which one of the following?

  • A. The Central Government, by notification, notwithstanding the Minimum Wages Act, 1948
  • B. The State Government, in consultation with the State Employment Guarantee Council
  • C. The District Programme Coordinator, applying the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 schedules
  • D. The Gram Sabha of the village, subject to a statutory floor fixed by the State

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005 and its successor framework: 1. An applicant not provided work within fifteen days of the date on which work was demanded was entitled to a daily unemployment allowance, and the successor law retains this fifteen-day trigger. 2. Priority was to be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries were women who had registered and requested for work. 3. The wage employment guarantee extended to every rural household as well as to urban households in towns with a population below twenty thousand. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. An applicant not provided work within fifteen days of the date on which work was demanded was entitled to a daily unemployment allowance, and the successor law retains this fifteen-day trigger.
  2. Priority was to be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries were women who had registered and requested for work.
  3. The wage employment guarantee extended to every rural household as well as to urban households in towns with a population below twenty thousand.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005, a Job Card issued by the Gram Panchayat to a registered household remained valid for how long?

  • A. Three years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Ten years
  • D. It was permanently valid and required no renewal once issued

Q12. For the financial year 2026-27, the provision made as the Central share for the rural wage employment guarantee programme under the successor law is closest to which one of the following?

  • A. ₹1.25 lakh crore
  • B. ₹60,000 crore
  • C. ₹95,692 crore
  • D. ₹1.51 lakh crore