Ministry : Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Rural Development)

Part II-Section 3-Sub-Section (i)

Subject : Extra Ordinary

Overview Extraordinary Gazette: Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Transition Rules, 2026

This Extraordinary issue of the Gazette of India publishes the draft transitional provisions and rules for replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) with the new Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. It outlines the framework for transitioning existing schemes, liabilities, assets, and records to the new Act while ensuring continuity of employment guarantees and administrative processes.

Key Points

• Transitional Provisions (Rule 3): The MGNREGA, 2005, continues in force up to an "appointed date" (to be notified), after which it stands repealed. All existing liabilities under the 2005 Act must be verified and settled before or concurrently with the transition.
• Settlement of Liabilities (Rule 4): State Governments must verify and settle admissible liabilities, including wages, unemployment allowance, and delay compensation, through established mechanisms and timely audits.
• Funding Continuity (Rule 5): The Central Government will ensure fund support for ongoing MGNREGS operations, including settlement of liabilities up to the appointed date, and may provide interim allocations for the new Scheme pending final norms.
• Works and Employment (Rule 6): States must complete ongoing MGNREGS works before the appointed date. New works are generally restricted to those listed in Schedule I of the 2025 Act, with ongoing works carried forward under the new framework.
• Worker Identity and Records (Rules 7–10): Valid e-KYC Job Cards under MGNREGA remain acceptable until Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued. All records—physical and digital—must be preserved and transferred to the new authority, subject to retention policies.
• Statutory Guarantee and Eligibility (Rule 8): Employment demands registered after the transition date will be governed by the 2025 Act. Households retaining unutilized guaranteed days in a financial year remain eligible for balance employment under the new provisions.
• Asset Transfer and Data Management (Rules 9–10): All movable and immovable assets created under MGNREGA transfer to the new authority. Digital and physical records are to be retained; destruction is permitted only per prescribed retention policies.
• Difficulty Resolution (Rule 11): The Central Government may issue directions or clarifications to resolve difficulties in implementing the transitional provisions.

Summary

This Gazette notification lays out the critical transitional framework for replacing MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. It ensures continuity of rural employment guarantees, clarifies the settlement of financial liabilities, and mandates the seamless transfer of assets, data, and worker records. The rules provide a structured timeline and administrative procedures to prevent disruption in rural employment support while aligning all existing obligations and processes under the new legal framework. The notification invites public feedback on the draft rules within 30 days of publication.