Rural job scheme workers dip after transition to new program
An analysis by LibTech India indicates a marginal dip in registered (2.5%) and active (2.43%) workers in rural job schemes following the transition from MGNREGS to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) on July 1, 2026. The Rural Development Ministry, however, disputed these findings, attributing changes to continuous verification and stating that no complaints of employment denial due to e-KYC or face authentication issues have been received. The analysis highlights that states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana accounted for a significant portion of the decline, raising concerns about the impact of digital compliance measures on worker numbers.
Key Points
- A marginal dip in registered and active rural job scheme workers was observed after the program transition.
- The transition occurred from MGNREGS to Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G).
- The Rural Development Ministry disputes the findings, citing continuous verification of records.
- Concerns remain about the impact of e-KYC and face authentication on worker numbers.
- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana saw significant reductions in worker rolls.
Exam Facts
- The transition was from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) 2025.
- The transition came into force on July 1, 2026.
- Registered workers fell from 27 crore to 26.33 crore (a 2.5% reduction).
- Active workers fell from 10.84 crore to 10.57 crore (a 2.43% reduction).
- LibTech India conducted the analysis.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.