Overview
- The Punjab government issued a gazette notification on Friday, June 26, to bring the Centre’s VB‑G RAM G scheme into force in the state from July 1.
- The move contradicts a unanimous Punjab Assembly resolution passed on December 30, 2025, and has prompted opposition leaders to accuse the AAP government of a political U‑turn and of striking a deal with the BJP.
- Nineteen states and union territories have now notified their state schemes and the new law formally replaces MGNREGA by raising the guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 and shifting cost sharing so most states must now meet 40% of programme costs.
- Practical rollout problems remain unresolved, including a backlog of unfinished MGNREGA works, portal and technical readiness that delayed an earlier April launch, and concerns about delayed wage payments to workers.
- States have objected to central allocation rules, a proposed blackout period during peak farm work, and wage levels, and several governments are exploring legal or political responses that could affect how the programme is funded and run.