G Ram G Bill 2025: The controversy with MGNREGA #GRamG #News #Controversy #mgnrega #law #india

The President of India has given assent to the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Bill, 2025 marking a significant milestone in the transformation of rural employment policy. The Act enhances the statutory wage employment guarantee to 125 days per financial year for rural households and seeks to advance empowerment, inclusive growth, convergence of development initiatives and saturation-based delivery, thereby strengthening the foundation for a prosperous, resilient and self-reliant Rural Bharat. The primary symbolic point of contention is the removal of the "Mahatma Gandhi" name from the scheme. Critics argue this is an attempt at historical revisionism and a "calculated move" to dismantle Gandhi's legacy. Renaming to "G RAM G": Opposition leaders have characterized the new acronym as politically motivated. Some critics suggested it reflects a "Nathuram Godse mindset" due to the name change, while others see it as a move to give the scheme a religious tone. Fiscal Burden on States: The bill shifts more financial responsibility to state governments. Previously, the Centre bore the vast majority of wage costs; the new law requires most states to cover 40% of wage expenses, which critics argue will "cripple" the scheme in resource-poor states. Dilution of "Guarantee": Lawmakers like P. Chidambaram and Prashant Bhushan argue the bill changes the scheme from a "right-driven" legal entitlement to a "budget-controlled" mission. They claim it removes the strict constitutional employment guarantee found in MGNREGA. Legislative Haste: Opposition members protested the speed at which the bill was passed—clearing Parliament in roughly 48 hours—without being referred to a Standing Committee for detailed scrutiny. Government Defense The Modi government and BJP leaders defend the bill as a "comprehensive legislative reset". Modernization: They argue that rural India has changed since 2005 and the original MGNREGA had reached its limits, suffering from corruption and misappropriation. Increased Benefits: Supporters highlight that the new law increases the guaranteed work period from 100 days to 125 days per year.