Parliament Question: Funds for VB-G RAM G

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3812 ANSWERED ON 11/08/2026 FUNDS FOR VB-G RAM G

3812. Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has notified the implementation framework, operational guidelines and funding norms for the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rojgar and Aajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Scheme, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the criteria adopted for determining normative allocations under the Scheme including the weightage assigned to rural population, poverty levels, unemployment, Scheduled Tribe population, geographical disadvantage and demand for wage employment, State and district-wise;

(c) whether any assessment has been made of the gap between the demand-driven employment provided under the erstwhile Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

(MGNREGS) and the normative allocations proposed under VB-G RAM G, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether States have been consulted for the allocation formula and implementation framework, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the measures taken to ensure that eligible rural households are not denied employment or livelihood support on account of exhaustion of normative allocations or budgetary ceilings? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) & (b): Consequent upon enactment of Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), Act 2025, the scheme has been successfully operationalized in rural areas of the entire country with effect from 1st July, 2026. All States and Union Territories have notified the Scheme and have started works under VB-G RAM G by providing employment to the willing households as per the provisions of the Act. The transition from Page 1 of 3Mahatma Gandhi NREGA to VB-G RAM G has been smooth, seamless and worker-centric. Over 9.69 Crore person days have been generated in approximately within a month of the rollout of the scheme in the country. As mandated under section 33 of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, the Ministry has already framed eight draft rules and published the same in e-gazette inviting comments/suggestions/objections from all stakeholders including State Governments and general public. This also include the “Objective parameters for the Normative Allocation Rules” under VB-G RAM G Act, 2025. After examination and consideration of the suggestions/ objections received from the Stakeholders, the Ministry has already notified the following 4 Rules under the new framework of VB-G RAM G as given below:

i. Transitional Provisions under Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB – G RAM G Rules,

2026. ii. Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

(Gramin): VB-G RAM G - Administrative Expenses Rules, 2026. iii. Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

(Gramin): VB-G RAM G, manner of Payment of Wages and Unemployment Allowance Rules, 2026. iv. Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

(Gramin): VB-G RAM G -Manner and procedure of expenditure incurred by the State in excess of the Normative Allocation and expenses of the scheme for the Union territories without legislature Rules, 2026.

Since the Subordinate Legislation prescribing objective parameters for the Normative allocation is under formulation, the Ministry of Rural Development has made interim fund allocations to all States/UTs for the financial year 2026-27 as an interim financial arrangement to ensure continuity in the implementation of the wage employment programme, uninterrupted discharge of the statutory entitlements and guarantees under the Act, and seamless availability of funds from the commencement of the Act.

(c) to (e): The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 provides for a statutory guarantee of wage employment of one hundred and twenty five days to every eligible rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work subject to the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder. The Ministry remains engaged with the States/Union Territories through established institutional mechanisms for matters relating to implementation of the Scheme.

Page 2 of 3VB-G RAM G is demand-driven programme, and the statutory right of every willing rural household to demand employment remains fully protected under the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025. The State Government is responsible for ensuring availability of employment in accordance with the provisions of the Act. To facilitate smooth implementation, the Central Government has made an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore for FY 2026–27(for period between 01.07.2026 to 31.03.2027), which is among the highest ever allocation made for any rural employment programme at Budget Estimate (BE) stage in the country. With the matching state share, the total programme outlay is likely to exceeds ₹1.51 lakh crore during FY 2026-27. This interim normative allocations will help in ensuring timely availability of funds and uninterrupted implementation of the Programme.

The Act further provides that where expenditure incurred for providing the statutory employment guarantee exceeds the approved normative allocation, the additional requirement shall be met by the concerned State Government, thereby ensuring that the entitlement of willing rural households is not constrained by the approved allocation. In addition, the Act contains enabling provisions for natural calamities, pandemics and other extraordinary circumstances, under which, on the request of the State Government, the Central Government may permit appropriate operational relaxations, including temporary expansion of permissible works, relaxation of procedural requirements and enhanced employment support to affected households, in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Further, where employment is not provided within the prescribed period, the household is entitled to unemployment allowance in accordance with the provisions of the Act. These provisions collectively ensure that the statutory employment guarantee under the Act remains fully protected.

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