Delhi: The Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Rural) Act, 2025, came into force on July 1. On Tuesday, the Centre notified revised wage rates under this new rural employment guarantee scheme. The national average wage under the scheme has risen from ₹298.8 per day (under MGNREGA) to ₹327.4 per day (under VB-G RAM-G), marking an average daily increase of ₹28.6.
The Ministry of Rural Development stated that the revised wage rates, effective from July 1, have been increased across all 34 states, Union Territories, and wage zones. A new interim base wage rate of ₹300 per day has been introduced to ensure that no notified wage under the program falls below this level. The government noted that the average increase in wage rates across the country exceeds 10 percent.
The Ministry stated that the Act provides a legal guarantee of up to 125 days of paid employment to eligible rural households, compared to the 100 days provided under the existing rural employment framework. It noted that 21 states and administrative units have been brought up to the new interim base wage rate of ₹300, while states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Assam will see wage increases ranging from 15 percent to 25 percent. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland will witness the highest increase, at approximately 24.5 percent.
The government stated that the revised wage structure is designed to ensure maximum benefit for states that previously had lower wage rates. It added that states with higher existing wage rates have also benefited. The notified daily wage rates under this include ₹409 in Haryana, ₹406 in Goa, ₹401 in Kerala, and ₹450 in the high-altitude Gram Panchayats of Sikkim. The Ministry stated that an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore has been made to States and Union Territories to ensure timely wage payments and the uninterrupted implementation of works under the new framework.
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the government’s priority is to ensure that no eligible rural worker remains without work for even a single day. He described the launch of the VB-G RAM-G initiative as a historic step towards building a developed India through prosperous villages, noting that the Centre and the States have worked together to complete the preparations for its launch.
