UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EMPLOYMENT UNDER VB-GRAM-G
Q1. With the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, the statutory guarantee of rural wage employment is now administered at the Union level by which one of the following?
- A. The Ministry of Labour and Employment, which administers every statutory employment guarantee operating in the country
- B. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, since works under the new Act are executed exclusively by Gram Panchayats
- C. The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, through its Department of Rural Development
- D. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, which is the permanent nodal ministry for all rural wage programmes
Q2. The Central share of ₹95,692.31 crore provided for VB–G RAM G in FY 2026-27 has been officially described as which one of the following?
- A. The largest allocation ever made for a rural employment programme at the Budget Estimate stage
- B. The largest allocation ever made to any Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Union Government
- C. The largest single-year outlay ever sanctioned by the Ministry of Rural Development for any of its programmes
- D. The largest wage-component release ever made in the entire history of the erstwhile MGNREGA
Q3. The application of the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 to rural areas of the country with effect from 1 July 2026 was given legal effect through which one of the following?
- A. A fresh enabling Act passed by Parliament in May 2026 for all States and Union Territories
- B. A commencement notification issued by the Central Government in May 2026
- C. Concurrent resolutions adopted by the legislatures of all States and Union Territories
- D. An Ordinance promulgated by the President in May 2026 pending ratification by Parliament
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the legislative passage of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025:
1. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2025 by the Union Minister of Rural Development.
2. It was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2025.
3. Before its passage, it was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development for detailed examination.
4. It received the assent of the President in the year 2025 itself.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2025 by the Union Minister of Rural Development.
- It was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2025.
- Before its passage, it was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development for detailed examination.
- It received the assent of the President in the year 2025 itself.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q5. Which one of the following is the correct statutory expansion of the short form 'VB–G RAM G' as used in the legislation enacted by Parliament in December 2025?
- A. Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)
- B. Viksit Bharat – Gramin Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Guarantee
- C. Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aatmanirbharta Mission (Gramin)
- D. Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mahaabhiyan (Gramin)
Q6. Under the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025, how many broad thematic areas are accorded priority in the selection of works to be taken up?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. Five
- D. Six
Q7. In what manner did the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 become operational in the rural areas of States and Union Territories in 2026?
- A. In a phased manner, beginning with the North-Eastern and Himalayan States that receive a 90:10 fund share
- B. First in the aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog, with extension to other rural areas after one year
- C. Simultaneously in all rural areas of the country from a single appointed date, namely 1 July 2026
- D. State by state, as and when each State notified its own peak agricultural season under the Act
Q8. The interim allocations and the first instalment of Mother Sanctions enabling States/UTs to pay wages from the first day of VB–G RAM G were issued by which one of the following?
- A. The Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance, which releases funds for all Centrally Sponsored Schemes
- B. NITI Aayog, which is the nodal agency for appraisal and release under Centrally Sponsored Schemes
- C. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, acting through the Panchayati Raj Departments of the States
- D. The Department of Rural Development in the Ministry of Rural Development
Q9. As per the State-wise position of funds under VB–G RAM G for FY 2026-27 released in July 2026, which one of the following correctly describes the relative position of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh?
- A. Madhya Pradesh received the larger interim allocation, but Maharashtra received the larger first-instalment Mother Sanction
- B. Madhya Pradesh received the larger amount under both the interim allocation and the first-instalment Mother Sanction
- C. Maharashtra received the larger amount under both the interim allocation and the first-instalment Mother Sanction
- D. Maharashtra received the larger interim allocation, but Madhya Pradesh received the larger first-instalment Mother Sanction
Q10. Consider the following pairs relating to funds under VB–G RAM G for FY 2026-27 as reported in July 2026:
1. Maharashtra — interim allocation of ₹4,420.32 crore
2. Maharashtra — first-instalment Mother Sanction of ₹630.76 crore
3. Madhya Pradesh — interim allocation of ₹6,252.03 crore
4. All States and Union Territories taken together — first-instalment Mother Sanctions of ₹25,844.97 crore
Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Maharashtra — interim allocation of ₹4,420.32 crore
- Maharashtra — first-instalment Mother Sanction of ₹630.76 crore
- Madhya Pradesh — interim allocation of ₹6,252.03 crore
- All States and Union Territories taken together — first-instalment Mother Sanctions of ₹25,844.97 crore
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 2 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q11. Which one of the following is provided for at the national level under the VB–G RAM G framework for inter-ministerial coordination and monitoring of the programme?
- A. The Central Employment Guarantee Council, reconstituted with representatives of worker organisations
- B. The National Level Steering Committee, with corresponding Steering Committees at the State level
- C. The National Development Council, which reviews rural employment outcomes across all States
- D. The Empowered Committee of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, with an expanded mandate
Q12. Consider the following statements comparing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 with the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025:
1. The guarantee of 100 days of unskilled manual wage employment per rural household in a financial year under the Act of 2005 has been raised to 125 days under the Act of 2025.
2. Whereas the wage component under the Act of 2005 was borne almost wholly by the Centre, the Act of 2025 operates on a Centrally Sponsored Scheme model with a 60:40 Centre-State sharing pattern for most States and Union Territories with legislature.
3. The entitlement to unemployment allowance where employment is not provided within the prescribed period, available under the Act of 2005, has been discontinued under the Act of 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The guarantee of 100 days of unskilled manual wage employment per rural household in a financial year under the Act of 2005 has been raised to 125 days under the Act of 2025.
- Whereas the wage component under the Act of 2005 was borne almost wholly by the Centre, the Act of 2025 operates on a Centrally Sponsored Scheme model with a 60:40 Centre-State sharing pattern for most States and Union Territories with legislature.
- The entitlement to unemployment allowance where employment is not provided within the prescribed period, available under the Act of 2005, has been discontinued under the Act of 2025.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3