Overview
- The Economic Survey 2025–26 casts the VB‑G RAM G Act as a decisive reset that replaces MGNREGA and expands the statutory guarantee to 125 days per rural household.
- Survey data show person‑days dropping from 389.09 crore in FY21 to 183.77 crore in FY26 up to December 31, alongside findings of work not done on the ground, misuse of machines, bypassed attendance and accumulated misappropriation.
- Key changes include faster wage disbursal on a weekly to fortnightly timeline, Gram Sabha‑led Viksit Gram Panchayat plans integrated with PM GatiShakti, and state‑wise normative allocations to guide spending.
- The funding pattern shifts to a 60:40 Centre‑state share with stronger central oversight to investigate complaints, pause releases for irregularities and direct corrective action.
- Congress escalated its ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Yatra’ with a Delhi rally and state actions, as Karnataka’s Assembly saw a walkout over a government ad, Punjab held rallies, Himachal leaders observed a fast, and Belagavi groups protested, arguing centralisation, higher state burdens and the removal of Gandhi’s name weaken the rights‑based guarantee.