Viksit Bharat – G Ram G Act | UPSC-Curated | GS-II

Core Update

The Union Government has announced a major legislative reform in rural employment guarantee through the Viksit Bharat – G Ram G Act, significantly expanding the scope and security provided to rural workers.

What is the Viksit Bharat – G Ram G Act?

It is a new law aimed at strengthening the rural employment guarantee framework (reforming the legacy MGNREGA system) to build self-reliant villages (Atmanirbhar Gram). It focuses on increasing guaranteed days, ensuring timely payments, and decentralizing decision-making.

Key Features

Increased Guarantee: Employment guarantee raised from 100 days to 125 days per household per year.
Unemployment Allowance: Mandatory provision if work is not provided within the stipulated period.
Wage Delay Compensation: Interest to be paid if wages are delayed by more than 15 days.
Administrative Reforms: Administrative expenditure cap increased from 6% to 9% to ensure timely salaries for field-level staff and effective system management.
Decentralization: Gram Sabhas are empowered to decide which development works to undertake, removing this power from central authorities (Delhi/Chennai).

Why it Matters

Enhanced Social Security: The additional 25 days provide a critical buffer for rural households during lean agricultural seasons.
True Federalism: Empowering Gram Sabhas aligns with the constitutional vision of the 73rd Amendment, ensuring development is demand-driven rather than top-down.
Accountability: The mandatory interest on delayed wages places a financial penalty on administrative lethargy, incentivizing timely payments.

UPSC Relevance

GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels.

Prelims Trap Alert

⚠️ The administrative cap has been INCREASED (to 9%), not decreased. A common logic might suggest decreasing admin costs is better, but here the aim is to pay field staff better to prevent corruption.