Budget 2026: Sitharaman Allocates ₹95,692 Crore for New Rural Jobs Scheme VB-G RAM G

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has provisioned ₹95,692 crore for the rebranded rural employment scheme, Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), in Budget 2026.
• VB-G RAM G ensures 125 days of wage employment for rural households volunteering for unskilled manual work, an increase from MNREGA's 100 days.
• The scheme, formerly MNREGA, was rebranded in December last year, marking changes in name, design, and the Centre-state cost-sharing framework.
• Under the new framework, expenditure will be shared in a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and states for most states, and 90:10 for special category states, increasing states' fiscal responsibility.
• Critics warn that VB-G RAM G might dilute the employment guarantee framework, despite an increased budget provision compared to previous MNREGA allocations.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 allocates ₹95,692 crore to the new VB-G RAM G rural jobs scheme, increasing work days but shifting cost-sharing.