G RAM G Bill - What is the controversy

If you are someone who is updated with news and current affairs, you must have heard about the recently introduced G RAM G Bill. At first instance, it must have sounded absurd as well. But the world is going weird by the day. And if America can have “One Big Beautiful Bill”, then India for sure can have G RAM G Bill. Jokes apart, but this blog seeks to highlight the recently introduced G RAM G Bill, and decode the controversy ignited through the intricate lanes of the Parliament of India.

What is G RAM G Bill?

Though the terminology of this Bill hints at something related to the Hindu religion. However, it is nothing related to Lord Rama, or a specific religion. The G RAM G Bill stands for Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Bill 2025. The Bill seeks to replace the two decade old Congress era’s MGNREGA Scheme. The G RAM G Bill of 2025 is in controversy since its introduction in the Lok Sabha on December 16. The reason for controversial debates is two-fold, as discussed below.

Summary of G RAM G Bill (Source: PRS Legislative Research)

The Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB—G RAM G) Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 16, 2025. It seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).
Increase in number of guaranteed days of employment: MGNREGA guarantees at least 100 days of employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. The Bill increases the guarantee to 125 days. Under MGNREGA, if a person seeking work is not provided employment within 15 days, the state government must pay them an unemployment allowance. The Bill retains this provision.
Fund sharing: Under MGNREGA, the central government provides the entire cost of wages for unskilled manual work, up to three-fourths of the material cost, and a share of administrative costs. State governments provide one-fourth of the material cost, administrative costs, unemployment allowance, and compensation in case of delay in wage payments. The Bill amends this to provide that the scheme will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme. State governments will notify a scheme consistent with the Bill, within six months from its commencement. The fund-sharing pattern between the central government and state governments will be 60:40 for all states other than the North-eastern and the Himalayan states (90:10). A state and the central government will share the cost of wages, material costs, and administrative costs in the above ratios. The state government will continue to pay unemployment allowance and compensation.
State governments to bear expenditure in excess of normative allocation: The Bill provides that the central government will determine state-wise normative allocation for each financial year. The parameters for these allocations will be prescribed by the central government under Rules. The state government will bear any expenditure incurred in excess of this allocation.
Pause on works during agricultural season: The Bill requires state governments to announce in advance a period of up to 60 days for every financial year during which works under the scheme will not be undertaken. This period will cover peak agricultural seasons, including sowing and harvesting.
Planning framework: Under MGNREGA, gram panchayats are responsible for identifying projects in their area under the scheme. The Bill retains this and requires them to prepare a plan for works. These works will focus on four thematic domains: (i) water security, (ii) rural infrastructure, (iii) livelihood-related infrastructure, and (iv) mitigation of extreme weather events. These plans will be integrated with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and also aggregated at the national level.
Implementation and monitoring: MGNREGA establishes Councils at the central and state levels to undertake implementation and monitoring. The Bill retains these provisions and also provides that their composition will be specified under Rules. It constitutes the National Level Steering Committee which will provide high-level oversight, and recommend normative allocations. It also constitutes a Steering Committee for each state. Key functions of the State Committee include: (i) overseeing convergence with other programmes, (ii) aggregation of district plans into state plans, and (iii) coordinating with the National Committee.
Use of technology: The Bill provides for using: (i) biometric authentication for transactions, (ii) geospatial technology for planning and monitoring, (iii) mobile application-based dashboards for real-time tracking, and (iv) weekly public disclosure systems.

Highlights of G RAM G Bill 2025

G RAM G Bill Full Form is Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin).
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2025.
The main objective of the Bill is to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA).
While MGNREGA ensures 100 days of employment for unskilled manual work, the G RAM G Bill seeks to guarantee 125 days of employment.
The G RAM G is set to switch as a centrally sponsored scheme.
The fund-sharing pattern between central government and state governments will be 60:40. The North-eastern and the Himalayan states will be an exception with 90:10 sharing.
In case of excess of normative allocation, State Governments shall bear the expenditure.
Pause on works to cover peak agricultural seasons, including sowing and harvesting.
The framework for planning, implementation and monitoring under MGNREGA shall remain as it is.
Use of technological advancements has been encouraged under the G RAM G Bill 2025.

Ram replacing Mahatma Gandhi?

The biggest controversy around the G RAM G Bill is twofold. First, the question arises that while nothing new or major is being introduced in the name of rural employment scheme, then why does the Central Government need to change the name? What is the problem with the existing terminology?

The other facet that makes this G RAM G bill 2025 controversial is the clever use of Lord Ram. Why is it abbreviated as G RAM G, and why not GRAM G?

Some neutral parties are questioning the change. Some others are justifying the change saying that if it can be Mahatma Gandhi in full form, then Lord Ram in abbreviation should do no harm.

Conclusion

Based on limited understanding of the G RAM G Bill, and the Union Government’s strategic history, it was a clever move to name it so. The first factor is this Government’s track record of changing names, of Colonial laws or streets, as it goes. Another aspect is to change the name, as some opposition leaders are launching it as a target on Mahatma Gandhi. The major and layman centric facet is the inclusion of Lord Ram in the abbreviated form. Though it could somehow be moulded to hint at Gram (since the scheme provides for Gramin employment). But, a space, though silent, is too loud to convey the Central Government’s political agenda.