All workers shifted to VB-G RAM G; e-KYC not mandatory, says Rural Development Ministry, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Union Rural Development Ministry announced that all workers registered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) have been migrated to Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).
• The Ministry clarified that pending e-KYC does not prevent a worker from demanding or receiving employment under VB-G RAM G.
• This statement addressed concerns raised by a report about 57 lakh active workers with incomplete e-KYC.
• Approximately 95% of active workers, totaling 10.27 crore out of 10.84 crore, have completed their e-KYC.
• Around 2.11 crore workers have been offered employment under VB-G RAM G to date.

Detailed Insights:

• The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted in 2005 to guarantee 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
• The Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 repealed MGNREGA and came into effect from July 1, 2026.
• VB-G RAM G enhances the employment guarantee to 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually.
• e-KYC serves as a database authentication measure to strengthen identity verification and maintain an accurate worker database.
• The responsibility for completing the e-KYC process for workers rests with the respective State and Union Territory governments.
• An appropriate exception mechanism is in place to ensure that workers with pending e-KYC can still demand and receive employment.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): A social welfare legislation enacted in 2005, guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
• Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G): A new scheme that replaced MGNREGA, guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually.
• e-KYC: Electronic Know Your Customer, a digital process for authenticating the identity of individuals to maintain accurate records.