What is Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G)?

The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme can be traced back to state-level employment guarantee programmes and was introduced as “Rural Employment Scheme” by former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao in 1991.

In August 2005, the government officially passed the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). Over the years, the NREGA scheme expanded to cover all rural districts across India, and on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, 2009, it was renamed as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was replaced by Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) in July, 2026.

What is Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G)?

The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G), replacing the former Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, is a social welfare scheme introduced to guarantee employment and a minimum income to rural households. The act aims to provide 125 days of unskilled manual labour work in a single financial year to eligible rural households.

Applicants are usually offered manual labour tasks that are categorised into four major thematic areas: water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and works to mitigate extreme weather events that require no skills. This not only creates productive assets but also provides employment and a minimum income to unemployed rural populations.

The VB-G RAM G Act ensures that the applicants are provided with work within 15 days of applying, and those who didn’t receive any employment are entitled to receive an unemployment allowance of 25% of the notified wage rate for the first 30 days of the financial year and 50% for the remaining period of the financial year. The manual labour work is primarily planned and implemented by the local Gram Panchayats through the preparation of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans.

The place of employment is usually within a 5-kilometre radius of the applicant’s residence, reducing the travelling expenses and hassle. The wages will be paid weekly or within fifteen days from the closure of the muster roll and will be directly transferred into the worker’s bank or post office accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

If the worker does not receive their wage within 15 days from the date of closure of the muster roll, they will receive compensation for the delay at the rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages for every day of delay beyond the sixteenth day.

Individuals with existing e-KYC-verified MNREGA Job Cards shall continue to remain valid until Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.

Attendance of workers will be taken through NMMS-enabled systems and face authentication-based attendance mechanisms. Certain exceptions will be enforced to ensure workers are not impacted due to technical or connectivity-related issues.

To ensure accurate verification of workers, functionaries and transactions, the VB-G RAM G Act provides for biometric authentication, mobile-based monitoring, spatial technology-enabled planning, real-time dashboards, AI-enabled analytics and citizen engagement platforms.

Who can apply for the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G)?

The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) does not have strict eligibility criteria; every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work can apply. To qualify, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:

• Age

The individual must be an adult, i.e., at least 18 years of age at the time of applying for the scheme.

• Residency

The applicant must reside in rural districts, as the scheme covers districts with only rural areas and not urban districts.

• Willing to Work

The applicant must be willing to perform unskilled manual labour.

How to Apply for Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Online?

One can apply for the VB-G RAM G scheme either online or offline, based on their preference. Applying offline requires physical visits to the local Panchayat Secretary or Gram Rozgar Sahayak, which can be time-consuming due to multiple physical verifications.

Workers can demand employment orally or in writing by filling the existing Form-6 framework, or through digital platforms.

Here’s how one can apply for the VB-G RAM G, formerly known as Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, online.

Step 1: Download the UMANG App or visit the website https://web.umang.gov.in/web_new/home.

Step 2: Log in to the UMANG app using the applicant’s mobile number and enter the OTP received via SMS.

Step 3: In the app or website, enter ‘VB-G RAM G’ in the search bar. This will direct the applicant to the scheme's main services page.

Step 4: Click on ‘Apply for Job Card’.

Step 5: Fill in the basic personal details asked, along with the preferred mode of payment of pension. Upload the applicant’s photo and click on ‘Submit’.

One can also apply for the VB-G RAM G scheme online via the Community Service Centre (CSC). Every village has a CSC. To locate your nearest CSC, visit the official CSC locator website and enter your state, district, and sub-district. A list of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and their address will appear.

Visit the nearest VLE and register for the VB-G RAM G yojana. The CSC operator will fill in the applicant’s personal information in the application form and forward it to the concerned Gram Panchayat for action. One can register for the scheme throughout the year at the GP office.

Documents Required to Apply for Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G)

The following are the documents required to apply for the VB-G RAM G yojana.

• Photograph of the applicant
• Name, age, and gender of all Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Job Card Applicants from the applicant’s household
• Name of village, gram panchayat, block
• Proof of Identity, such as a ration card, a voter ID card, and Aadhaar card.
• Details regarding whether the applicant is a beneficiary of SC / ST / Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) / land reform (LR)
• Specimen signature or thumb impression

FAQs

What Is A VB-G RAM G Job Card?

A VB-G RAM G Job Card is an important document that legally allows households to apply for work and record workers’ entitlement under the VB-G RAM G Act.

How to apply for the VB-G RAM G Job Card online?

You can apply for the Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Job Card online by downloading the UMANG app or visiting its official website. Once logged in, simply search for ‘VB-G RAM G,’ click on ‘Apply for Job Card,’ enter the requested details, and click ‘submit’.

Can multiple family members apply for the VB-G RAM G job card?

Yes, since the job card is issued to a household, multiple family members can work under the VB-G RAM G.

Does the VB-G RAM G provide a daily employment allowance to everyone?

No, the VB-G RAM G act provides a daily employment allowance only to applicants who were not employed within 15 days from the receipt of their application seeking employment.

When will the wages be paid?

The wages for the manual labour done under the VB-G RAM G scheme will be disbursed weekly or within fifteen days from the closure of the muster roll.