The Punjab government has officially notified the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Scheme, Punjab 2026, marking a significant policy reversal. The notification was issued by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats under the provisions of the Central VB-G RAM G Act, 2025. The scheme will come into effect from July 1, 2026, applying to all notified rural areas across the state.
Scheme Details and Employment Guarantee
According to the gazette notification, the VB-G RAM G Scheme aims to align Punjab's rural development framework with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. It provides an enhanced statutory wage employment guarantee of 125 days per financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. This marks an increase from the 100 days guaranteed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The notification was issued under Section 3(1) of the Central Act by the Governor of Punjab. The scheme focuses on employment generation, growth, convergence, and saturation of rural development initiatives.
Political U-turn by AAP Government
The notification represents a complete reversal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government's earlier stance. In December 2025, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha unanimously passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA in its original rights-based form. The state government had termed the proposed law "anti-labour" and alleged that replacing MGNREGA would adversely affect Dalit labourers, rural workers, and economically weaker families who depend on the employment guarantee programme.
Background of Opposition
The Punjab Assembly had strongly opposed the Centre's decision to replace MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G framework. The resolution urged the Centre to immediately withdraw the Act and restore guaranteed work and wages for labourers under MGNREGA. The state government argued that the new law would undermine the rights of rural workers and weaken the social safety net provided by MGNREGA.
Implementation and Impact
With the latest notification, the Centre's new rural employment law will come into force in Punjab from July 1. The scheme is expected to benefit rural households by providing 25 additional days of guaranteed employment compared to MGNREGA. The notification marks a key step in implementing the national rural employment policy in the state, despite earlier political opposition.
