On 11 May 2026, the Ministry of Rural Development formally notified that the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB—GRAM-G Act, 2025 will be brought into force with effect from 1 July 2026.
Concurrently, the Ministry notified the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) from the same date, marking a definitive shift in India’s statutory framework governing rural employment.
The VB—GRAM-G Act represents a recalibration of rural employment policy, combining the statutory guarantee of wage employment (rozgar) with a structured and outcome-oriented focus on sustainable livelihoods (ajeevika). The legislation seeks to move beyond short-term employment provision towards an integrated model linking work opportunities with skill development, productive asset creation, and durable income security.
Since its enactment in 2005, MGNREGA has been a central pillar of India’s social protection framework. With effect from 1 July 2026, all rules, notifications, schemes, orders, and guidelines issued under the MGNREGA framework will also cease to have effect, thereby avoiding statutory overlap and ensuring a clear and unambiguous legal transition.
Upon its implementation, the VB—GRAM-G Act will have uniform application across all States and Union Territories, creating a single, consolidated statutory framework for rural employment and livelihood guarantees.
Also Read: Parliament Winter Session 2025 Wrap-Up: Key Laws, Big Reforms, and Bills That Matter
[Enforcement of VB—GRAM-G Act, 2025, published on 11-5-2026]
[Repeal of MGNREGA, published on 11-5-2026]
