VB-G RAM G Scheme Trails MGNREGS By 9% In August, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The new rural employment scheme, Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), showed a 9% decline in persondays generated in August compared to MGNREGS in August 2025.
• In its first month (July 2026), VB-G RAM G registered a 48.01% decline in persondays compared to MGNREGS in July 2025.
• Cumulative persondays for July and August 2026 fell by 32.13% compared to the same period in 2025.
• No persondays were generated in West Bengal in 2025 under MGNREGS due to a freeze on financial disbursements by the Union government.
• So far, 6,40,779 new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee cards have been issued across States and Union Territories.
• Approximately 95% of active workers, totaling 10.27 crore out of 10.84 crore, have completed their e-KYC.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) came into force on July 1, 2026, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).
• The Union Rural Development Ministry officials suggest it is too early to assess the full performance of the new scheme.
• A 60-day pause in agricultural activity is cited as a contributing factor to the dip in employment generation.
• States and Union Territories have the flexibility to tailor peak agricultural periods to local calendars, ensuring the employment program complements farming activities.
• Workers can continue to access employment using their existing job cards issued under the MGNREGS.
• The Ministry has clarified that pending e-KYC does not hinder a worker's ability to demand or receive employment under the new scheme.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G): A new rural employment scheme enacted in 2025, replacing MGNREGA, aiming to guarantee 125 days of wage employment to rural households.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): A social security measure guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of rural households willing to do unskilled manual work.
• Persondays: A unit of measurement representing the amount of work done by one person in one day, used to quantify employment generated under rural schemes.
• e-KYC: Electronic Know Your Customer, a digital process for verifying a person's identity, often involving biometric and document checks, to streamline onboarding and reduce fraud.