3 min readNew DelhiJan 15, 2026 10:27 PM IST
First published on: Jan 15, 2026 at 10:24 PM IST
As the government prepares to bring into force its Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, soon, the Ministry of Rural Development is contemplating to allow verified job cards under the MGNREGA to avail the new scheme during its transitional phase, official sources said Thursday.
The VB G RAM G Act envisages the issuance of a Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card for adult members of every household in any rural area.
Parliament passed the new law, VB G Ram G Act, in December 2025, replacing the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. The new law increases the number of guaranteed employment days from 100 under MGNREGA to 125, while also increasing the share of funding from states.
Sources say the government is likely to implement the Act very soon with a notification of the date from which it becomes applicable. That day onwards, all states will have six months to formulate schemes in keeping with the Act.
In the time being, those who had completed e-KYC of their existing job cards are likely to continue to use the same. Sources said about 75% of the job cards had been seeded with Aadhaar and verified. An official said the government would be notifying rules for the transition with the aim of making it as “smooth” as possible.
As per Section 37 of the Act that provides for the repealing and transitional provisions, “anything duly done or any action taken under the repealed Act, including any notification issued, scheme sanctioned, employment generated, muster roll prepared, wage liability accrued, or proceeding initiated, shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been done, taken, issued, sanctioned, accrued or incurred under the corresponding provisions of this Act, as if this Act had been in force at all material times.”
While the Act is expected to commence this financial year, it remains to be seen how long it will take for the new scheme to be rolled out in the states.
The social audit mechanism of works undertaken under the new scheme would be strengthened, the official said. Using the Panchayati Raj Ministry’s Panchayat Nirnay app, the public would be able to see the details of the social audits undertaken, the official said. The Act also includes a weekly public disclosure of the ongoing works and progress through meetings held at the panchayat level. The new scheme will also incorporate an “e-measurement book”, through which the progress and the wages paid for the works can be tracked, the official said.
The Act was passed amid uproar in Parliament, with the Opposition protesting against it. The Congress has since announced a 45-day protest against the Act, saying it takes way the right to work and centralises the scheme.
Verified MGNREGA job cards may remain valid during the transition phase until new schemes are formulated. (Source: Express Archives) 
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