NATIONAL SCHEMES

Government Launches VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 Replacing MGNREGA

• Context: Government of India notified the implementation of the Viksit Bharat –Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act, 2025 on 11 May 2026.
• The Act will be implemented across the country from 1 July 2026.

Replacement of MGNREGA

• • With the enforcement of the new law, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will stand repealed from the same date.

• The transition marks a major shift in India’s rural development and employment framework.

Objective of the New Act

• The VB–G RAM G Act aims to promote integrated, productivity-oriented and future-ready rural transformation aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Enhanced Employment Guarantee

• Every rural household with adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work will receive a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment annually.

• The increased employment guarantee is intended to strengthen livelihood security and improve rural incomes.

Unemployment Allowance

• Employment must be provided within the prescribed timeframe after demand for work is made.
• If employment is not provided, eligible workers will receive unemployment allowance as per the provisions of the Act.

Wage Payment Provisions

• Wages will continue to be transferred directly into workers’ bank or post office accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

• Wage payments must be made weekly or within 15 days after closure of the muster roll.

• Workers will be entitled to compensation in case of delayed wage payments.

Budget Allocation

• • For the financial year 2026–27, the Central Government has allocated ₹95,692.31 crore for the programme.

• It is the highest-ever Budget Estimate allocation for a rural employment scheme in India.

• Including State contributions, the total programme outlay is expected to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore.

Expected Benefits

• The programme is expected to boost rural infrastructure development, employment generation and enhancement of rural incomes.

Smooth Transition from MGNREGA

• Employment under MGNREGA will continue without interruption until the new Act comes into force.

• Ongoing works under MGNREGA as of 30 June 2026 will be seamlessly carried forward under the new framework.

Support to States and UTs

• The Government has provided adequate labour budget allocations to States and Union Territories according to demand and field requirements.

• The aim is to ensure that no eligible rural household faces inconvenience during the transition period.

Features of the VB–G RAM G Framework

• The main objective of the scheme is to provide a legal guarantee of wage employment to rural households while promoting the creation of durable and quality rural infrastructure assets.

• The programme seeks to connect rural employment generation with larger national economic and infrastructure goals through integration of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans with initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti.

• • The proposed legislation is designed to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

• The guaranteed annual wage employment for each rural household has been increased from 100 days to 125 days under the new framework.

• The funding pattern for wages has been revised to a 60:40 sharing arrangement between the Centre and the States, replacing the earlier system where unskilled wages were fully financed by the Central Government.

 

Sahayog Portal

• • Context: The Cyber ​​Crime Division has sent a letter to the platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), requesting the removal of posts that disrupt public peace.

• The Sahayog Portal is an online platform launched in October 2024 to facilitate the rapid removal of illegal content from the internet.

About the Sahayog Portal

• It is an online platform launched in October 2024 to facilitate the rapid removal of illegal content from the internet.

• It enables government agencies to send direct removal notices to social media platforms and other online intermediaries.
• It derives its statutory backing from Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• It ensures that intermediaries act swiftly while retaining their ‘Safe Harbour’ protections.
• Nodlal Ministry: Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Features of the Sahayog Portal

• Connects government agencies, State/Union Territory Nodal Officers, and 65 online intermediaries on a single platform.
• Sends rapid, documented notices to intermediaries for the immediate removal of illegal content.
• Operates under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, thereby ensuring legal enforceability and consequences for non-compliance.

 

PM MITRA Textile Park

• Context: India’s first fully operational, mega PM MITRA Textile Park is located in Warangal, Telangana.

• Inaugurated by the Prime Minister, this massive facility valued at ₹1,695 crore spans an area of ​​1,300 acres. 
• It operates based on the ‘5F’ vision (Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign) to boost the domestic textile industry.
• Employment Generation: Expected to create more than 24,000 jobs across the entire textile value chain.

About PM MITRA Textile Park

• • The Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme establishes mega textile hubs. 
  • These hubs bring together every stage of textile production—such as spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, and garment manufacturing—under one roof.
  • Each park covers a vast area (approximately 1,000 acres or more) and functions as a comprehensive ecosystem for textile manufacturing.

• MITRA Parks can be either greenfield (new) or brownfield (existing) projects.

• • The scheme is inspired by the vision: “Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign.” 
  • Furthermore, it aims to make Indian textiles affordable, quick to market, and of high quality.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles

Key Features of PM MITRA Parks

• Each park consolidates spinning, garment manufacturing, dyeing, and processing activities within a single zone, thereby reducing transportation time and costs.

World-Class Infrastructure

• • These parks feature modern roads, reliable power and water supply, worker dormitories, logistics facilities, and ready-to-use factory units. Furthermore, they provide dedicated spaces for research, skill development, and commercial operations.

• PM MITRA allocates 50% of the park area for core manufacturing activities, 20% for common utility facilities, and 10% for commercial development.

Employment and Investment

• • Each park is expected to generate 100,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs.

• The scheme aims to attract investments exceeding ₹70,000 crore.

Public-Private Partnership

• The PM MITRA Park will be established through a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ (SPV); this entity will operate under a ‘Public-Private Partnership’ (PPP) model, jointly owned by the State Government and the Government of India.

Capital Support and Incentives

• The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial assistance of up to ₹800 crore per park for ‘Greenfield’ projects and up to ₹500 crore per park for ‘Brownfield’ projects.

• State Governments will provide the necessary land and upgraded basic utility infrastructure for these proposed mega textile parks.

PM MITRA Parks location

The seven approved PM MITRA Parks are being established at the following locations: Tamil Nadu (Virudhunagar), Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow District), and Maharashtra