Government releases ₹25,863 crore to states under VB-G-RAM-G, ensures minimum ₹300 daily wage for rural workers

New Delhi: The Government has released the first installment of ₹25,863 crore to states and Union Territories for implementing the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G-RAM-G], marking the beginning of the country's new rural employment programme. The announcement was made on Saturday by Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a video conference with Rural Development Ministers from all states and Union Territories to review the progress of the scheme, which officially came into effect on July 1, 2026. According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the nationwide rollout has been completed smoothly without any major technical or operational issues, making it one of the fastest national implementations of a rural employment programme. Seamless Transition from MGNREGA Speaking during the review meeting, Chouhan said the transition from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to VB-G-RAM-G has been smooth across the country. He noted that while MGNREGA took nearly three years to be implemented nationwide after its launch, VB-G-RAM-G has been rolled out across the country in a single day. He attributed the achievement to coordinated efforts between the Union Government, state governments and the administrative machinery. Employment Generation Begins Across Villages The...