VB-GRAM G
- Context: Union Rural Development Minister announced an interim allocation of ₹95,962 crore for the new rural employment scheme, the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-GRAM G).
Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act, 2025
- The Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act, 2025 is a rural employment and development law aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.
- It guarantees 125 days of unskilled wage employment and promotes the creation of productive rural assets.
Implementation and Transition
- The Act will come into force across all rural areas from 1 July 2026.
- Mahatma Gandhi NREGA will stand repealed from the same date.
- Ongoing MGNREGA works will continue and be migrated under the new Act.
Employment Guarantee
- Guarantees 125 days of wage employment per financial year (increased from 100 days).
- Employment must be provided within 15 days of application.
- Failure to provide employment entitles workers to unemployment allowance.
- Employment is generally provided within 5 km of the applicant’s village; work beyond 5 km attracts an additional 10% wage.
Eligibility and Registration
- Every rural household with adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work is eligible.
- Existing MGNREGA job cards with completed e-KYC remain valid until new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued.
Wage Payment and Compensation
- Enhanced wage rates will be notified under the Act.
- Wages are paid weekly or within a fortnight after muster roll closure.
- Payments are made directly to bank or post office accounts through DBT.
- Delayed payments attract compensation of 0.05% per day of unpaid wages.
Attendance and Worksite Facilities
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- Attendance will be recorded through face authentication-based systems.
- Alternative arrangements will be available during network or technical failures.
- Worksites must provide: Safe drinking water, Shade and rest facilities, First-aid box, Child-care arrangements.
Seasonal and Agricultural Provisions
- States may suspend works during peak agricultural seasons such as sowing and harvesting.
- New works may be opened during transition if existing works are insufficient.
Administrative Structure
District Level
- District Collector functions as the District Programme Coordinator (DPC).
Block Level
- An officer not below the rank of Block Development Officer (BDO) acts as Programme Officer.
Financial Pattern
- 90:10 funding ratio for North-Eastern and Himalayan States.
- 60:40 for other States and UTs with legislature.
- 100% Central funding for UTs without legislature.
- Material expenditure cannot exceed 40% at district level.
Transparency Measures
- Every worksite must display a “Janata Board” containing work details and costs.
- Weekly disclosure of muster rolls, payments and sanctions is mandatory.
- Gram Panchayats shall conduct weekly disclosure meetings.
Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP)
- VGPP is a participatory and evidence-based development plan aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.
- All works under the Act must originate from VGPPs approved by the Gram Sabha.
- It promotes convergence-based and saturation-focused rural development.
Permissible Works
The Act permits works under four thematic areas:
- Water Security Works
- Core Rural Infrastructure
- Livelihood-related Infrastructure
- Extreme Weather Mitigation Works
Convergence with Other Schemes
- Encourages a “single-plan, multi-funding” approach.
- Allows convergence with Central, State and local schemes.
- PMAY-G housing works are eligible for 90/95 person-days wage support.
Restrictions
- Contractors are prohibited.
- Labour-displacing machinery shall not be used as far as practicable.
- Works are to be executed mainly through manual labour.
Special Provisions during Disasters
- During natural calamities or extraordinary situations, the Central Government may:
- Expand permissible works.
- Increase wage employment.
- Relax documentation requirements.
- Provide other special measures upon State Government recommendations.
India and the Paris Agreement
- Context: India has called for the shrinking pool of climate finance and a widening adaptation finance gap to be tackled head-on at the United Nations climate negotiations-linked talks under way in Bonn, Germany.
- It has urged that a Paris Agreement provision which obliges developed countries to provide funds to developing nations, be given dedicated agenda space to enable substantive progress.
Paris Agreement
- The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international climate pact adopted in 2015 during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- It succeeded the Kyoto Protocol and broadened climate action responsibilities to all countries.
- Aim: To keep the rise in global temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
India and the Paris Agreement
- India submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UNFCCC in 2015, which later became its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement for the period up to 2030.
- Through its updated NDC, India has pledged to encourage sustainable lifestyles through the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, adopt a cleaner and greener development pathway, cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, and ensure that nearly 50% of installed power capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources.
- The updated commitments also include creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, enhancing climate resilience in vulnerable sectors, mobilising financial resources from domestic and international sources, and promoting technology transfer and climate-related research and development.
- India reaffirmed its dedication to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, highlighting that these measures are crucial for achieving its long-term net-zero emissions target by 2070.
Achievements
- India attained the milestone of deriving 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 target.
- At COP26, India announced its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
- The country has shown global leadership through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the LiFE movement.
- India has aligned its climate strategy with the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”, identifying solar energy and green hydrogen as major engines of economic growth, employment generation, and sustainable development.
Rejuvenation of the Yamuna
- Context: Union Home Minister chaired a high-level review meeting regarding the rejuvenation of the Yamuna and called on Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to work through a coordinated action plan instead of adopting “a fragmented approach”.
Yamuna River System
- The Yamuna River System is an important part of the Ganga River System, one of the three major Himalayan river basins.
- The Yamuna River is a major tributary of the Ganga and flows for about 1,376 km.
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- Originates from the Yamunotri Glacier near Bandarpoonch Peak in the Lower Himalayas.
- Located in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand.
- The river begins as a small glacial stream. It joins the Ganga River at Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh.
- The Yamuna holds great religious significance in Hinduism and forms part of the Char Dham pilgrimage.
- Left-bank Tributaries – Tons River (Largest tributary), Hindon River, Giri River, Sabi River.
- Right-bank Tributaries – Chambal River (Longest tributary of the Yamuna, Betwa River, Ken River, Sindh River, Dhasan River.
- States through Which Yamuna Flows – Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh
- Economic Importance – Agriculture, Industrial Development, Fisheries, Transport and Trade, Hydropower and Multipurpose Projects, Tourism and Pilgrimage.
