VB-G RAM G scheme: ₹7.5 lakh crore rural jobs push launched in Tirupati
Synopsis
India's rural employment guarantee has a new name and a far larger price tag. The VB-G RAM G scheme, launched in Tirupati with ₹7.5 lakh crore committed over five years, promises 125 days of work at ₹300/day — and the government claims it enrolled over 5 lakh workers on day one alone, a rollout speed it contrasts sharply with the UPA's three-year MGNREGA implementation.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched VB-G RAM G in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh on 2 July 2025 .
The scheme commits ₹7.5 lakh crore over five years to guarantee rural employment.
Workers are entitled to a minimum of 125 days of employment per year at wages of at least ₹300 per day .
On launch day ( 1 July ), over 5 lakh people were employed at more than 50,000 locations nationwide.
Andhra Pradesh received approvals for 74,212 PMAY-G houses and ₹422.1 crore for 146 roads and 19 bridges under PMGSY.
The scheme traces its lineage from Vajpayee-era rural employment programmes through MGNREGA to its current form.
Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday, 2 July formally launched the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission - Gramin (VB-G RAM G) scheme in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, announcing a ₹7.5 lakh crore outlay over five years to guarantee rural employment across the country. The launch event, held at Mukkavaripalle in Tirupati district, was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Union Ministers of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan and Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.
What VB-G RAM G Promises Workers
Under the new scheme, rural labourers will be entitled to a minimum of 125 days of employment annually, with wages guaranteed at no less than ₹300 per day. Chouhan stated that on the very first day of the scheme — 1 July — more than 5 lakh people were provided employment at over 50,000 locations across the country, signalling an intent to demonstrate immediate, nationwide reach.
Beneficiary workers at the Tirupati event received VB G-RAM-G cards distributed by the Union minister, marking their formal enrolment under the programme. The national launch was symbolically marked with the laying of a foundation stone for a farm pond.
Comparing NDA and UPA Spending on Rural Employment
Chouhan drew a pointed contrast with the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, claiming the UPA spent ₹2.13 lakh crore on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) across its tenure, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government spent ₹8.63 lakh crore over 10 years and will now commit a further ₹7.5 lakh crore over the next five years under VB-G RAM G.
He also contrasted rollout speed, arguing that the UPA took three years to implement MGNREGA nationally, while the NDA launched VB-G RAM G in a single day. Chouhan traced the lineage of rural employment guarantees back to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 'Total Rural Employment Scheme', which he said evolved through successive transformations into MGNREGA and now into VB-G RAM G.
Andhra Pradesh Gets Additional Central Support
The Tirupati event also saw Chouhan announce several state-specific approvals. He stated that the Centre is working to sanction 74,212 new houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Grameen (PMAY-G) for Andhra Pradesh, enabling poor families to own permanent homes.
An approval letter worth ₹422.1 crore was handed over for the construction of 146 new roads and 19 bridges under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for villages not yet connected by road. Additionally, an approval under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) was granted to procure 2,16,250 tonnes of Totapuri mangoes, with Chouhan noting that Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a horticulture hub under Naidu's leadership.
Greenery Drive and Innovation on Display
On the sidelines of the launch, ten varieties of timber-yielding saplings — including Teak, Maddi (Arjun), Neem, and Eucalyptus — were planted by Chouhan, Naidu, Kalyan, and other dignitaries. The tree-planting initiative is part of a special action plan devised by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan aimed at boosting greenery, protecting the environment, and increasing panchayat revenues through timber production and wood banks.
Officials also demonstrated the 'Magic Drain', an innovative three-layer wastewater management solution introduced by the Andhra Pradesh government, to Chouhan at the venue. As VB-G RAM G takes effect, its implementation pace and wage disbursement timelines across states will be closely watched.
Point of View
But the real question is whether the wage floor of ₹300 per day will be indexed to inflation and whether the 125-day entitlement will be enforced uniformly across states that have historically under-reported demand. The 'day one' claim of 5 lakh workers at 50,000 sites deserves independent verification; past MGNREGA rollouts have seen attendance figures inflated at launch events. With rural distress remaining a persistent electoral pressure point, the scheme's credibility will ultimately rest on wage payment timelines — the single biggest grievance under MGNREGA for over a decade.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VB-G RAM G scheme launched by the government?
VB-G RAM G — Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission - Gramin — is the central government's new rural employment guarantee scheme, launched on 1 July 2025. It promises a minimum of 125 days of employment per year to rural workers at wages of at least ₹300 per day, with a total outlay of ₹7.5 lakh crore over five years.
How does VB-G RAM G differ from MGNREGA?
VB-G RAM G is positioned as the successor to MGNREGA, offering 125 days of guaranteed employment compared to MGNREGA's 100 days, with a minimum wage of ₹300 per day. The government claims it was rolled out nationally in a single day, contrasting with the three years it says the UPA government took to implement MGNREGA across the country.
Where was VB-G RAM G formally launched and who attended?
The scheme was formally launched at Mukkavaripalle in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, on 2 July 2025. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presided over the event, joined by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Union Ministers of State Kamlesh Paswan and Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar.
What additional benefits did Andhra Pradesh receive at the launch event?
Andhra Pradesh received central approval for 74,212 new houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Grameen, an approval letter worth ₹422.1 crore for 146 roads and 19 bridges under PMGSY, and a Market Intervention Scheme approval to procure 2,16,250 tonnes of Totapuri mangoes.
How much has the NDA government spent on rural employment compared to the UPA?
According to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the UPA government spent ₹2.13 lakh crore on MGNREGA during its tenure, while the NDA government spent ₹8.63 lakh crore over 10 years. The NDA has now committed an additional ₹7.5 lakh crore over the next five years under VB-G RAM G.
