



Govt eyes dual allocations for MGNREGA, new rural jobs scheme in transition year
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : Even as a two-decade-old welfare employment scheme is set to be replaced by a new one, the upcoming Union budget may carve out separate allocations for both schemes to ensure there are no gaps in jobs during the transition period, according to the minister in charge of rural development. The new Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) scheme, to be notified by the Centre, will give states six months’ transition time.
During this interim phase, the outgoing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme will continue to operate as usual, necessitating a separate budgetary allocation, according to rural development and agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. A proposed allocation of ₹1.51 trillion for VB-G RAM G has been made for the coming financial year, of which ₹95,600 crore will be contributed by the Centre, Chouhan told Mint in an exclusive interaction. The rest of the money will be contributed by states.
While the minister confirmed there would be an allocation for MGNREGA as well, he did not disclose the amount proposed. In both FY25 and FY26, the MGNREGA scheme was given an identical allocation of ₹86,000 crore, the highest in its lifetime. “Based on demand, adequate provisions will be made for MGNREGA in the coming financial year during the transition period," Chouhan said.
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