Lok Sabha passes VB-G RAM G bill to replace MGNREGA amid uproar by Opposition

December 18, 2025

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), amid intense protests by Opposition members. MPs stormed the well of the House, shouted slogans against the Centre for dropping Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme, tore copies of the bill and flung them towards the Chair. The bill was cleared by voice vote before the House was adjourned for the day. It will now be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

Key Changes: More Workdays, Higher State Share
The new legislation proposes increasing guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125 per year while raising the states’ share of scheme costs to 40 per cent. Under MGNREGA, the Centre bore the full wage cost, with states sharing material and administrative expenses. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the bill, citing shortcomings in MGNREGA and alleging imbalance in labour and material spending under the existing framework.

Opposition Flags Fiscal Burden, Naming Row Deepens
Opposition parties and allies expressed concern over the increased financial burden on states. Leaders from the TDP, DMK and Trinamool Congress criticised the Centre’s control over budget allocation and implementation areas. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the removal of Gandhi’s name, calling it “deeply shameful”, and announced that the state would rename its employment scheme after Mahatma Gandhi to honour the Father of the Nation.

“The removal of Gandhiji’s name fills me with deep shame. A Bill has been introduced that removes the name of Mahatma Gandhi from MGNREGA. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation? We have therefore decided to rename our Karmashree scheme after Mahatma Gandhi. We seek… pic.twitter.com/JjBqdSRrq3

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 18, 2025