In villages across India, the news has travelled fast&mdash;sometimes through mobile phones, sometimes through word of mouth at tea stalls. The VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 has now become law after receiving President Droupadi Murmu&rsquo;s assent, formally replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). For millions who depended on MGNREGA as a safety net, the moment is filled with both expectation and unease.
The new law promises 125 days of wage employment per rural household every year, and the government says it is designed to align rural development with the long-term vision of &ldquo;Viksit Bharat 2047&rdquo;. Officials argue that the scheme will focus not just on employment, but also on creating durable rural assets and streamlining implementation. On paper, it is presented as a shift from welfare to structured development.
On the ground, however, reactions are mixed. For landless labourers and marginal farmers, MGNREGA was not just a scheme&mdash;it was a right they could demand locally. Many now worry about how the new framework will work, who will decide the nature of work, and whether payments will remain timely. &ldquo;Work close to home kept us from migrating,&rdquo; says a farm worker in eastern Uttar Pradesh. &ldquo;We only hope this new law doesn&rsquo;t take that away.&rdquo;
The Bill was passed amid sharp opposition protests, with critics warning that centralised decision-making could dilute local control. As the law comes into force, the real test will be whether it strengthens rural livelihoods&mdash;or leaves the poorest negotiating a new system they barely understand.

New rural jobs law promises 125 days of work, sparks hope and fear in villages

VB-G RAM G Bill Becomes Law

New rural jobs law promises 125 days of work, sparks hope and fear in villages

December 21, 2025 | 18:32 IST