The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, paving the way to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new rural jobs initiative guaranteeing 125 days of employment annually. This came amid sharp protests by Opposition parties, who described the move as an attack on the world’s largest employment guarantee programme.
The Bill, commonly referred to as the G-RAM-G Bill, was cleared by voice vote after an eight-hour discussion. Introducing the Bill, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the new framework would boost livelihood opportunities, improve transparency, and expand development activities in villages.
Defending the government’s decision to phase out MGNREGA, Chouhan said the new scheme carried forward Gandhian principles of employment, dignity, and rural upliftment.
"Congress killed ideals of Bapu, NDA ensured Bapu lives through pucca houses built under the PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Ayushman Bharat," Chouhan said listing out government schemes for welfare of the poor.
However, Opposition MPs accused the government of dismantling a welfare milestone and weakening labour rights. They argued the Bill would reduce job security and shrink guaranteed work days for rural households. MPs stormed the Well of the House, tore copies of the Bill, and raised slogans against the government as Chouhan concluded his reply.
With the House in turmoil, Speaker Om Birla adjourned proceedings for the day soon after the Bill was passed. Friday marks the final sitting of the Winter Session.
The legislation will now move to the Rajya Sabha for further consideration. Once cleared by Parliament and after receiving Presidential assent, the revised employment scheme will be rolled out nationwide.
Priyanka Gandhi: ‘Bill Will Finish Off Rural Guarantee’
Reacting to the development, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra vowed to oppose the G-RAM-G Bill inside and outside Parliament. “The proposed legislation will finish off the rural employment guarantee scheme completely,” she said, adding that the Opposition was united in resisting the government’s move.
Earlier in the day, several Opposition MPs staged a protest march inside the Parliament House complex, accusing the government of attempting the “systematic murder” of MGNREGA.
Led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the leaders marched from the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar holding a banner titled ‘Mahatma Gandhi NREGA’. Slogans were raised demanding the withdrawal of the Bill.
Prominent participants included K C Venugopal, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, A Raja, ET Mohammed Basheer, Arvind Sawant, NK Premachandran, and other MPs from INDIA bloc constituents. Kharge said the Opposition would take the fight to the streets and launch a nationwide movement against the Bill.
With the government firm on replacing MGNREGA and the Opposition preparing for agitation, the political battle over rural employment guarantees appears set to intensify.