India Expands Rural Jobs to 125 Days
The Indian government has officially expanded the rural employment guarantee, increasing the number of workdays from 100 to 125. This change comes under the new “Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act,” which replaces the previous MGNREGA system. The goal is to provide more income security to millions of families living in rural areas while building better village infrastructure.
Under this updated law, the government aims to link job creation with productive assets like water conservation projects and rural roads. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted that the new system will also speed up payments. Workers are now promised their wages within one week of completing their tasks, and any further delays will result in extra interest payments to the workers.
A key feature of the new policy is the “peak season pause.” The scheme will stop for 60 days during major sowing and harvesting times. This is designed to ensure that farmers have enough local labor available during busy agricultural periods. By balancing rural jobs with farming needs, the government hopes to strengthen the entire village economy.
While the increase to 125 days provides more work, the funding model has also changed. The central government will now cover 60% of the costs, with state governments paying the remaining 40%. This shift encourages states to manage their rural projects more carefully while ensuring that the most vulnerable households still have a reliable safety net throughout the year.
