January 19, 2026 : The government has issued a strong rebuttal to what it described as misleading and politically motivated claims surrounding the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025. It said the opposition’s criticism is factually incorrect and distorts the core provisions of the law.
Clarifying the intent and scope of the Act, the government stated that it guarantees a minimum of 125 days of wage employment to every rural household. It dismissed allegations that the right to work has been diluted, asserting that such claims ignore the explicit safeguards built into the legislation. Under the Act, employment must be provided within 15 days of demand, failing which the payment of unemployment allowance is mandatory.
On the issue of wages, the government underlined that the Act clearly entitles every worker to receive wages at the notified rate for each day of work performed. Wage rates will be notified annually and will remain higher than those under MGNREGA. The Act also guarantees timely wage payments, mandating that wages be paid on a weekly basis or, at the latest, within a fortnight.
Responding to concerns about restrictions during the agricultural season, the government said the 125-day employment guarantee remains fully protected and is not compromised by seasonal considerations.
The government also rejected allegations of excessive centralisation, calling them baseless. It pointed out that the Act explicitly prohibits the engagement of contractors. On funding, it clarified that the scheme follows a structured cost-sharing formula of 60:40 and 90:10, depending on the category of states, and does not impose an arbitrary financial burden.