The Centre has introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, signalling a major shift in India’s rural employment policy. If passed, the Bill will replace the long-running MNREGA scheme, which has guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to rural households for nearly two decades.

Under the proposed Bill, the government plans to increase guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days per year, aiming to provide stronger income security for rural families. Unlike MNREGA, which focused mainly on wage employment, the new framework emphasises both rozgar (employment) and ajeevika (livelihood), hinting at a broader development-oriented approach.

The Bill is part of the government’s larger Viksit Bharat vision, which focuses on inclusive growth and long-term economic stability. However, the move has also sparked debate, with concerns around funding patterns, implementation challenges, and the future of MNREGA’s rights-based structure.

As discussions continue in Parliament, the Bill could redefine how rural employment and livelihoods are supported in India.