Govt. enacts the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025

Act No. 36 of 2025, Dated: 21.12.2025

1. Legislative Context and Vision

The Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 has been enacted to realign India’s rural employment and livelihood framework with the long-term national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The Act represents a shift towards integrated, outcome-oriented, and decentralised rural development, while strengthening statutory employment guarantees.

2. Statutory Guarantee of Wage Employment

The Act provides a clear statutory guarantee of not less than 125 days of wage employment in every financial year to rural households:

• Applicable to households whose adult members voluntarily seek unskilled manual work
• Employment is demand-driven and rights-based
• The guarantee is legally enforceable and backed by accountability mechanisms

2.1 Strengthened Legal Obligation

Section 5(1) places an explicit obligation on the Government to ensure delivery of the guaranteed employment. The Act does not dilute the right to demand work; instead, it expands the entitlement beyond earlier frameworks and reinforces its enforceability.

3. Planning Framework – Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs)

All works under the Act must originate from Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs).

3.1 Key Features of VGPPs

• Prepared at the Gram Panchayat level
• Based on participatory planning processes
• Approved by the Gram Sabha
• Reflect local needs, priorities, and development gaps

This ensures that planning remains bottom-up and community-driven, preserving the constitutional role of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

4. Digital and Spatial Integration With National Platforms

VGPPs are:

• Digitally and spatially integrated with national planning platforms, including PM Gati Shakti
• Linked with infrastructure, logistics, and development datasets across Ministries

4.1 Whole-of-Government Convergence

This integration enables:

• Cross-sectoral planning by different Ministries and Departments
• Avoidance of duplication of works and wastage of public resources
• Alignment of rural employment works with broader infrastructure and development goals

Importantly, decentralised decision-making is fully retained, even as national-level coordination is enhanced.

5. Outcome-Oriented and Saturation-Based Development

The integrated planning framework facilitates:

• Saturation-based outcomes (complete coverage of identified needs)
• Better sequencing and prioritisation of works
• Faster and more efficient implementation
• Improved quality and durability of assets created

This marks a transition from fragmented project execution to coherent, area-based rural development.

6. Implementation as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme

The Act is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS):

• Operationalised through State Government notifications
• States are responsible for execution in accordance with the Act and Rules
• Flexibility is provided to States within the statutory framework

7. Funding Framework and Fiscal Discipline

Funding under the Act is provided through:

• State-wise normative allocations
• Allocations based on objective parameters prescribed in the Rules

7.1 Key Attributes

• Predictability in fund flow
• Improved fiscal discipline
• Better planning at State and local levels
• No dilution of statutory entitlements to:

1. 1. Wage employment
   2. Unemployment allowance where work is not provided

8. Accountability and Grievance Redressal

The Act strengthens:

• Monitoring and reporting mechanisms
• Accountability of implementing authorities
• Grievance redressal systems accessible to rural households

The expansion to 125 guaranteed days, combined with enhanced oversight, reinforces the justiciable nature of the employment guarantee.

9. Policy Significance

The Act represents a major evolution in India’s rural employment architecture by:

• Expanding guaranteed employment days
• Integrating decentralised planning with national platforms
• Promoting convergence across government programmes
• Enhancing efficiency, transparency, and enforceability
• Aligning rural livelihoods with the long-term vision of a developed India by 2047

10. Key Takeaway

The Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 strengthens rural employment as a legal right, expands guaranteed work to 125 days, embeds participatory planning through VGPPs, and leverages digital integration for efficient, outcome-driven rural development—without compromising decentralisation or statutory entitlements.

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