Centre released draft rules for Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025 on May 11, 2026, replacing MGNREGA from July 1, 2026. Public consultation open till June 21 via e-Gazette portal. Draft covers institutional architecture, grievance redressal, wage payments, and transitional provisions. Labour budget of 45 crore persondays approved for June 2026 transition period. Mother sanctions of Rs 26,971 crore issued under existing MGNREGA for continuity.

VB-G RAM G Act represents India's most significant rural employment policy shift since MGNREGA's 2005 inception. Unlike MGNREGA's 100-day guarantee, the new framework aims for comprehensive rural livelihood transformation through technology-enabled governance and expanded scope beyond wage employment. The phased replacement strategy indicates government's recognition of rural employment's political sensitivity — sudden disruption could affect 13 crore households currently enrolled under MGNREGA. Draft rules reveal sophisticated institutional architecture: National Level Steering Committee for policy oversight, Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council for implementation coordination, and technology-enabled grievance redressal with time-bound resolution mechanisms. The transitional provisions ensuring job card continuity and liability settlement demonstrate administrative maturity. June 2026's 45 crore persondays budget exceeds typical monthly allocations, suggesting government's commitment to seamless transition. This reform aligns with India's rural development evolution — from food security (PDS) to employment security (MGNREGA) to comprehensive livelihood security (VB-G RAM G), reflecting changing rural aspirations and demographic transitions.