WAGE RATES UNDER VIKSIT BHARAT-GUARANTEE FOR ROZGAR AND AJEEVIKA MISSION

1. At a Glance

VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 is the successor statute to MGNREGA, 2005, enacted to deliver the rural "right to work" under the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision [S1][S2].
The wage-rate question is the most politically and fiscally sensitive lever in the Act — Section 10 governs Centre-notified wages, with a statutory floor pegged to MGNREGA Section 6 wages [S1][S2].
Implementing ministry: Ministry of Rural Development; commenced across all rural areas w.e.f. 01 July 2026 [S1][S2].

PIB release dated 03 February 2026 by the Ministry of Rural Development clarified the wage-rate framework under Sections 10 and 4(3) of the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 [S1].
Act commenced 01 July 2026 across rural India, replacing MGNREGA's wage-notification regime in covered areas [S2].
Parliament passed the Bill on 18–19 December 2025 (introduced in Lok Sabha 16 Dec 2025) [S2].

MGNREGA, 2005 — original 100-day guarantee; wages notified under its Section 6 [S1].
Viksit Bharat @2047 vision drove demand for a revamped, tech-enabled, outcome-linked rural employment statute [S2].
VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha 16 Dec 2025; passed both Houses 18 Dec 2025 [S2].
Notified into force 01 July 2026 [S2].

Parent Act: Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 [S1].
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development [S1].
Guarantee: 125 days per rural household per financial year (up from 100 under MGNREGA) [S2].
Section 10 — Central Government may notify wage rate; shall not be less than wage notified under Section 6 of MGNREGA, 2005 [S1].
Transition rule — until Centre notifies, MGNREGA Section 6 wage rates continue to apply [S1].
Section 4(3) — provides for disbursement of daily wages [S1].
Unemployment allowance — payable by State if employment not provided within 15 days [S2].
Funding pattern: 60:40 (Centre:State) general; 90:10 for NE & Himalayan States [S2].
Four work themes: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, extreme-weather mitigation [S2].
Tech mandates: biometric authentication, geospatial planning, mobile dashboards [S2].

Legal/Constitutional
Statutory floor in Section 10 prevents the Centre from notifying VB–G RAM G wages below MGNREGA Section 6 wages — protects against wage-regression [S1].
Operates under the rural employment field; aligns with Directive Principles (Art. 41) — right to work [S1].
Economic
25% expansion of guaranteed person-days (100→125) raises fiscal outlay; 60:40 sharing shifts marginal cost to States [S2].
Daily-wage disbursement under Section 4(3) supports rural consumption smoothing [S1].
Administrative
Gram Panchayat-led planning with district/state/central oversight; Central & State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Councils [S2].
Biometric + geospatial + dashboard stack tightens leakage controls [S2].
Social
Continuity of MGNREGA wage floor prevents disruption for SC/ST/women workers who form majority of muster rolls [S1].
Governance/Federalism
90:10 NE/Himalayan share preserves cooperative federalism; State retains unemployment-allowance liability — incentive to provide work [S2].

16 Dec 2025 — Bill introduced in Lok Sabha [S2].
18 Dec 2025 — Passed by Parliament [S2].
03 Feb 2026 — PIB clarification on wage-rate mechanism (Sections 10 & 4(3)) [S1].
01 Jul 2026 — Act commenced in all rural areas of India [S2].

VB–G RAM G Act enacted in 2025; commenced 01 July 2026 [S2].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Rural Development [S1].
Guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household per FY [S2].
Section 10 empowers Centre to notify wage rate [S1].
VB–G RAM G wage cannot fall below MGNREGA Section 6 wage [S1].
Until Centre notifies, MGNREGA Section 6 wage rates continue [S1].
Section 4(3) mandates daily wage disbursement [S1].
Unemployment allowance triggered if work not provided within 15 days [S2].
Centre-State fund share: 60:40 (general), 90:10 (NE/Himalayan) [S2].
Four thematic work areas include water security and extreme-weather mitigation [S2].
Bill passed by Parliament on 18 December 2025 [S2].
Mandates biometric authentication and geospatial planning [S2].

GS-II: Government policies for vulnerable sections; welfare schemes; statutory bodies.
GS-III: Inclusive growth, employment, rural economy.
Plausible stems:
"The VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 marks a continuity-with-reform shift from MGNREGA. Critically examine, with reference to wage determination and federal fiscal sharing."
"Statutorily pegging VB–G RAM G wages to MGNREGA Section 6 wages is a guarantee against wage regression but a constraint against wage modernization. Discuss."
"Evaluate the role of biometric and geospatial technologies in improving outcomes under India's rural employment guarantee regime."

MGNREGA, 2005 — predecessor; Section 6 wage benchmark is load-bearing here.
DBT & Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) — daily-wage disbursement architecture.
Article 41 (DPSP) — constitutional anchor for right to work.
Finance Commission devolution — interacts with 60:40 / 90:10 sharing.
NRLM (DAY-NRLM) — livelihood mission complementing wage employment.
PM-KISAN & PMAY-G — sister rural welfare schemes.
Viksit Bharat @2047 — overarching vision document.
Consumer Price Index–Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) — basis for MGNREGA wage indexation.

Wrong ministry: it is Rural Development, not Agriculture & Farmers Welfare or Labour & Employment [S1].
Confusing 125 days (VB–G RAM G) with 100 days (MGNREGA).
Assuming MGNREGA is repealed — the Act covers rural areas; MGNREGA Section 6 wage rates remain the floor and default until notification [S1].
Mixing up Section 10 (wage rate) with Section 4(3) (disbursement) and Section 6 of MGNREGA [S1].
Treating the 15-day unemployment-allowance trigger as a Central liability — it is a State obligation [S2].

[S1] WAGE RATES UNDER VIKSIT BHARAT-GUARANTEE FOR ROZGAR AND AJEEVIKA MISSION — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222702 — (tier: 1)
[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)