Controversial VB-G Ram G Bill, 2025 becomes law with President's assent

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Approving the controversial rural employment bill, President Draupadi Murmu has formally assent to the VB-G Ram G Bill, 2025, which will effectively replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The VB-G RAMG Bill, 2025, meaning the Grow India Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, was passed by the Rajya Sabha by voice vote on Thursday (December 18, 2025), hours after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha, despite strong opposition from opposition leaders over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the employment scheme.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the new law, criticizing its lack of sympathy for rural laborers and the Centre’s lack of contribution to rural employment.

“MNREGA is the lifeline for the poor. They are deliberately destroying it, and they want to make poor villagers and farm laborers slaves of the rich. That’s why we fought to retain the MNREGA law and all its provisions should remain as they are,” he told ANI.

Opposition leaders had protested for 12 hours on the steps of Parliament, arguing that the bill was hurriedly passed by both houses without proper debate.

Now an Act, it promises to increase wage employment from 100 to 125 days per year per household with a statutory rural job guarantee by the government. As far as funding is concerned, the Act will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme, with 90:10 centre-state cost share for the North-Eastern and Himalayan states and 60:40 for the rest of the states. The latter changes the funding burden for states dramatically by 30%. The entire funding for a similar scheme in Union Territories will be borne by the Centre.

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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi had earlier said that this bill is against the poor and warned of reduced employment opportunities. He said, “We will oppose this bill. With this bill, MNREGA will end in the coming months. As soon as its burden falls on the states, this scheme will gradually end. This bill is against the poor.”

Also read: MNREGA vs VB-G RAMG Bill 2025: What are the key differences in India’s new rural employment law

(edited by : Priyanka Deshpande,