The Central government on Tuesday introduced a new bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and increase the guaranteed wage employment from the current 100 days to 125 days per year for rural households.
The proposed legislation, titled the Viksit Bharat Gramin Ajeevika and Rozgar Guarantee Bill, 2025, was tabled by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The bill aims to strengthen rural livelihoods and infrastructure while aligning with the Modi governmentās vision of a developed India.
Presenting the bill, Chouhan said the government was committed to Mahatma Gandhiās ideals and claimed that rural development under the current regime had surpassed that of previous governments. He stated that the new law would focus not only on providing employment but also on creating durable rural assets.
However, the bill triggered sharp opposition from several members. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of reducing budgetary allocation for the employment scheme by nearly 40 per cent, arguing that the proposed changes weakened the original intent of MGNREGA. The oppositionās protest led to heated exchanges in the House, forcing an adjournment until 2 pm.
The proposed bill marks a significant departure from the original 2005 legislation that was introduced to address rural poverty and unemployment. Discussions on the bill are expected to continue amid strong political debate as the government seeks parliamentary approval.