The Congress party on Saturday announced that it will launch a nationwide protest against the Centre for replacing the rural employment scheme MGNREGA with the VB G-RAM-G Act 2025. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held, after which Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that replacing the scheme named after Mahatama Gandhi is an insult to the father of the nation. “We took an oath in the meeting today. We decided to launch a massive movement across the country to save the MGNREGA scheme. The Indian National Congress party will launch the Save MGNREGA Campaign from January 5th,” Kharge said in the media briefing after the CWC meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">मोदी सरकार ने 16 दिसंबर 2025 को संसद में माना था कि नीति आयोग के अध्ययन में पाया गया है कि &#39;मनरेगा&#39; से ड्यूरेबल असेट्स बनें हैं। मनरेगा बहुत ही शानदार योजना रही, ऐसा कई सारी रिपोर्ट्स में भी बताया गया। कोरोना काल में भी मनरेगा योजना के चलते बहुत से प्रवासी मजदूरों की मदद… <a href="https://t.co/exlCv6XYbx">pic.twitter.com/exlCv6XYbx</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/2004854125344030778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;“We will protect the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) at all costs. MGNREGA is not just a scheme but a right to work granted by the Constitution of India. We also pledge to democratically oppose every conspiracy to remove Gandhiji’s name from MGNREGA,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-360-degree-attack-on-organised-crime-soon-says-amit-shah-lauds-terror-probes-1766773654614">‘360-degree attack on organised crime soon,’ says Amit Shah, lauds terror probes</a>&nbsp;Kharge said the people are angry over the repeal of MGNREGA, and the government will have to face the consequences.&nbsp;Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally took the decision of replacing MGNREGA without consulting the concerned ministers or the Union Cabinet.&nbsp;“MGNREGA was not just a scheme; it was a rights-based concept… This direct, rights-based concept is now under attack… Finally, I have been informed that this decision was taken directly by the Prime Minister’s Office, without consulting the concerned ministers or the Cabinet,” Rahul said. “This reflects the present situation, where governance has become a one-man show and whatever Narendra Modi wants is done,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">हम शपथ लेते हैं 👇 <a href="https://t.co/yHyiTpoE3s">pic.twitter.com/yHyiTpoE3s</a>&mdash; UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCUttarPradesh/status/2004860633796542467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-of-wars-tariff-turmoil-and-climate-disasters-1766568207775">Yearender 2025: The year of wars, tariff turmoil, and climate disasters</a>&nbsp;The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill was passed during the recently concluded winter session of Parliament to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA.President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the passed bill which has become the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.&nbsp;The Congress-led opposition has taken a strong exception to the replacing of MNREGA, alleging that it is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi as his name has been removed from its title.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yearender-2025-the-year-dissent-and-angst-triggered-mass-protests-worldwide-1766674340518">Yearender 2025: The year dissent and angst triggered mass protests worldwide</a>&nbsp;The new law makes a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.Under the new law, Centre and the state governments will have to share a 60:40 per cent ratio funding for the scheme.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally took the decision of replacing MGNREGA without consulting the concerned ministers or the Union Cabinet.

The Congress party on Saturday announced that it will launch a nationwide protest against the Centre for replacing the rural employment scheme MGNREGA with the VB G-RAM-G Act 2025. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held, after which Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that replacing the scheme named after Mahatama Gandhi is an insult to the father of the nation. “We took an oath in the meeting today. We decided to launch a massive movement across the country to save the MGNREGA scheme. The Indian National Congress party will launch the Save MGNREGA Campaign from January 5th,” Kharge said in the media briefing after the CWC meeting.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally took the decision of replacing MGNREGA without consulting the concerned ministers or the Union Cabinet.

Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge

Lok Sabha in the winter session has passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or the VB GRAM G Bill, on Thursday, to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA, passed in 2005.&nbsp;<h2>Key feature of the VB GRAM G Bill&nbsp;</h2><ol><li>Nature of the Guarantee: The nature of the Guarantee changes from universality to discretionary provisions. MGNREGA had a universal and statutory right to work for any household in any area; it changed to areas “notified by the central government”</li><li>Basis of Work: The basis of work changes from demand-driven to supply-driven. There were provisions of unemployment allowances for failure to provide employment. Here, the central government allocates funds to determine the possibility of work.</li><li>Financial Burden: MGNREGA was a heavily central-funded programme, ranging from 70-30 allocation to 90-10 in specific areas such as the Northeast India and the Union Territories, but now the scheme is on a 60-40 split between the centre and the state.</li><li>Planning process: The planning process changes from bottom-up democratic participation to an autocratic top-down model. Earlier, the planning was done by the Local Gram Sabha for local needs, but now the planning is guided by a centralised “Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack”.</li><li>Availability of work: The VB GRAM G increases the guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days. There was a mandatory availability of the bill, where workers can get work any time they want, but now there is a blackout period of 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, to ensure the availability of farm labour.</li></ol><h2>Criticism of VB GRAM G Bill</h2>The bill faced staunch protest from the opposition, and many critics called it “the dismantling of a right in the name of a reform". Eventhough, a section of the opposition is sternly opposing the naming of the bill, calling it an insult to Mahatma Gandhi, another segment has a more nuanced response. Belgian-born Indian development economist Jean Dreze said that the new bill completely undermines the concept of guarantee. The scheme intends to guarantee work, but it doesn't guarantee that the guarantee will come into effect. He called it a “joke”. The central government has been weaponising MGNREGA to attack the federal structure of the country. West Bengal has not been allocated MGNREGA funds since March 2022, citing non-compliance with Central directives. This is an example of how the discretionary power of the central government will be used in VB GRAM G by using technologies that are not ready for use. The government has changed the process of audit from social to a technocratic, top-down audit, further alienating the manual workers.&nbsp;

Parliament passes the VBGRAMG Bill to replace MGNREGA, changing the right to work, funding structure and planning model amid sharp opposition criticism.

Lok Sabha in the winter session has passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or the VB GRAM G Bill, on Thursday, to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA, passed in 2005. Key feature of the VB GRAM G Bill Nature of the Guarantee: The nature of the Guarantee changes from universality to discretionary provisions. MGNREGA had a universal and statutory right to work for any household in any area; it changed to areas “notified by the central government” Basis of Work: The basis of work changes from demand-driven to supply-driven. There were provisions of unemployment allowances for failure to provide employment. Here, the central government allocates funds to determine the possibility of work. Financial Burden: MGNREGA was a heavily central-funded programme, ranging from 70-30 allocation to 90-10 in specific areas such as the Northeast India and the Union Territories, but now the scheme is on a 60-40 split between the centre and the state. Planning process: The planning process changes from bottom-up democratic participation to an autocratic top-down model. Earlier, the planning was done by the Local Gram Sabha for local needs, but now the planning is guided by a centralised “Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack”. Availability of work: The VB GRAM G increases the guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days. There was a mandatory availability of the bill, where workers can get work any time they want, but now there is a blackout period of 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, to ensure the availability of farm labour. Criticism of VB GRAM G Bill The bill faced staunch protest from the opposition, and many critics called it “the dismantling of a right in the name of a reform". Eventhough, a section of the opposition is sternly opposing the naming of the bill, calling it an insult to Mahatma Gandhi, another segment has a more nuanced response. Belgian-born Indian development economist Jean Dreze said that the new bill completely undermines the concept of guarantee. The scheme intends to guarantee work, but it doesn't guarantee that the guarantee will come into effect. He called it a “joke”. The central government has been weaponising MGNREGA to attack the federal structure of the country. West Bengal has not been allocated MGNREGA funds since March 2022, citing non-compliance with Central directives. This is an example of how the discretionary power of the central government will be used in VB GRAM G by using technologies that are not ready for use. The government has changed the process of audit from social to a technocratic, top-down audit, further alienating the manual workers.

Parliament passes the VB GRAM G Bill to replace MGNREGA, changing the right to work, funding structure and planning model amid sharp opposition criticism.

Lok Sabha passes VB GRAM G Bill to replace MGNREGA amid opposition protest- Find key features inside

vb-gram-g-bill

Vb Gram G Bill, News on Vb Gram G Bill, stories on Vb Gram G Bill, articles on Vb Gram G Bill, Vb Gram G Bill stories at Wion, Vb Gram G Bill news, Vb Gram G Bill latest news

vb gram-g-bill

Congress to launch ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ campaign on Jan 5, demand repeal of VB-G RAM G Act: Kharge

Lok Sabha passes VB GRAM G Bill to replace MGNREGA amid opposition protest