New Delhi, July 1: A significant change has begun for rural India as the ‘Developed India – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-GRAMJI) Act, 2025’ took effect nationwide on Wednesday. Under this new law, the legal guarantee of employment for eligible rural families has been extended from 100 days to 125 days.
According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the aim of this law is not just to increase employment but also to strengthen livelihoods in villages, create sustainable community assets, and enhance rural infrastructure to accelerate the goal of ‘Developed India 2047’.
On the eve of the law’s implementation, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that the central government has fully prepared in collaboration with all states and Union Territories. All necessary administrative, financial, and technical arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.
Chouhan stated, “Our top priority is that no eligible rural worker should be deprived of work for even a single day. The central and state governments are fully prepared to implement this law. Sufficient financial resources have been allocated, and the entire implementation framework is ready to ensure that ongoing work continues without interruption. The increased guarantee of 125 days of employment will strengthen the livelihoods of rural families, create sustainable community assets, and accelerate the goal of a developed India.”
The ministry noted that this increase in employment days will provide greater income stability for rural families. Additionally, the permanent community assets created in villages will significantly aid rural development over the long term.
To ensure the uninterrupted implementation of this scheme across the country, the central government has released an interim amount of ₹95,692.31 crore to states and Union Territories. According to the ministry, this will allow the scheme to operate smoothly, ensuring timely wages for workers and the effective implementation of the new law from day one.
The central government emphasized that this financial allocation is proof that there will be no disruptions during the implementation of this law in any state or Union Territory.
The Ministry of Rural Development has described this as a significant milestone in India’s rural development. The ministry stated that this law will further strengthen the government’s commitment to creating a self-reliant, robust, and prosperous rural India, laying the foundation for ‘Developed India 2047’.
The ministry also referenced the recent National Rural Development Conference (NRDC), where rural development ministers from all states and Union Territories assured Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that they are fully prepared to implement this law starting July 1.
According to the ministry, 29 states and Union Territories have made the necessary budgetary provisions to implement this law, while 24 states have already issued notifications for the ‘VB-GRAMJI’ state scheme.
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