The Centre has raised permissible works under VB-G RAM G to 375 from 266 under MGNREGA, adding a dedicated category for extreme weather and disaster preparedness
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The Central government has permitted 41 per cent more works under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) than the 266 previously permitted under MGNREGA, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. VB G RAM G replaced MGNREGA across India from July 1.
For the first time ever, out of the 375 permitted works, the government introduced 38 dedicated special categories of works under VB GRaM G for mitigating the impact of extreme weather events and disaster preparedness, according to the statement.
These include flood relief shelters, retaining walls, embankment strengthening, flood protection works, post-disaster restoration of rural roads and community assets, as well as forest-fire management measures such as fire lines and fuel-buffer zones, the statement said.
Around 15.64 million households sought work under the new VB G RaM G scheme in September 2026, which was nearly 34 per cent more than the corresponding month last year under MGNREGA, latest data showed.
Meanwhile, the official statement also said that the new schedule of permissible works under VB GRaM G is categorised under four broad pillars. These are water security, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and special works for extreme weather events and disaster preparedness.
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According to the government statement, the water security category has the largest share, with 128 permissible works. These include check dams, gully plugs, underground dykes, recharge shafts, injection wells, rejuvenation of rivers and other water bodies, reclamation of waterlogged land and renovation of field water-distribution channels.
The ministry said the category also covers drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, rooftop rainwater harvesting and tankas, besides newer interventions such as ice-stupas and artificial glaciers for water conservation and irrigation.
The second-largest category of permissible works is towards creation of core rural infrastructure, comprising 111 works aimed at strengthening essential rural civic and community infrastructure, the government said. These include solar street lighting, waste-to-wealth recycling plants, greywater treatment units, segregation sheds, rural libraries, veterinary and rural health centres, common service centres, multipurpose youth centres and additional classrooms and laboratories in government schools.
The schedule also provides for repair and maintenance of Jal Jeevan Mission water-supply infrastructure, along with rural parks, footpaths and other village-level amenities, according to the statement.
Livelihood-related infrastructure accounts for 98 permissible works. The government said these include agro-processing and value-addition facilities, cleaning, grading and packaging units, cold storage, mini flour mills, market yards, dairy infrastructure, mushroom cultivation sheds, sericulture sheds, poly-houses and aquaculture structures.
The ministry said the new framework significantly increases the emphasis on livelihood-related works, which account for 26 per cent of the total permissible works, compared with 1.1 per cent under the previous framework.
The official statement said the schedule places particular emphasis on farmers, vulnerable households, women and rural youth. Of the 375 works, 181 are agriculture and allied works, including 52 individual-beneficiary works covering water, land, plantation, livestock and other productive assets.
Another 107 works are tagged for Antyodaya and vulnerable households, including 68 individual-beneficiary works, while 36 works each are related to women and youths, the ministry said.
The statement said all works will originate through bottom-up planning under Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and require approval by the Gram Sabha. Their implementation will be tracked through the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack.
According to the government, the new framework is intended to link wage employment with durable asset creation, livelihood generation, water security, climate resilience and inclusive rural development, while enabling convergence among central, state and local schemes.
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Topics : MGNREGA MGNREGA funds MGNREGA wages
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First Published: Oct 06 2026 | 10:13 AM IST
