Shivraj Singh Chouhan releases first instalment of Rs 25,863 crore to States under VB-G-RAM-G
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the first instalment (Mother Sanction) of Rs 25,863 crore to States under VB-G-RAM-G on 5 July 2026, and said no State will have a wage rate below Rs 300 a day.
Summary
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G-RAM-G] with State and UT Rural Development Ministers by video conference on 5 July 2026 and released the first instalment (Mother Sanction) of Rs 25,863 crore. The scheme was rolled out nationwide on 1 July 2026, and the minister called the transition from MGNREGA smooth. Wage rates have risen by about 10% on average, with no State below Rs 300 a day, and the instalment aims to let States pay wages within 15 days. Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan were praised for first-day employment. The VB-G-RAM-G Act, 2025 (36 of 2025) guarantees at least 125 days of wage employment a year to rural households, up from 100 days.
Key facts
- First instalment
- Rs 25,863 crore (Mother Sanction), 5 July 2026
- Rollout
- Nationwide from 1 July 2026 (S.O. 2382(E), 11 May 2026)
- Wage floor
- No State below Rs 300/day; average rise about 10%
- Wage payment
- Within 15 days
- Guarantee
- 125 days per rural household per year (earlier 100)
- Praised
- Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan
Practice MCQs 4 questions
How much did the Centre release on 5 July 2026 as the first instalment (Mother Sanction) to States under VB-G-RAM-G?
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Correct answer: B — Rs 25,863 crore
Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the first instalment (Mother Sanction) of Rs 25,863 crore to the States.
According to the Rural Development Minister, what is the minimum daily wage rate that any State will now have under VB-G-RAM-G?
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Correct answer: D — Rs 300
Wage rates have been raised by about 10% on average, and no State will now have a wage rate below Rs 300 per day.
The VB-G-RAM-G Act, 2025 guarantees how many days of wage employment per financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work?
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Correct answer: A — 125 days
Section 5(1) of the Act provides a guarantee of not less than 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year, up from the earlier 100 days.
Consider the following statements about VB-G-RAM-G: 1. Its provisions came into force in all States and UTs on 1 July 2026. 2. Wage rates under it were raised by about 25% on average. 3. The first instalment is meant to let States pay wages within 15 days. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
S.O. 2382(E) appointed 1 July 2026 for all States and UTs, and the instalment aims at wage payment within 15 days; the average wage rise was about 10%, not 25%.