Delhi, July 1: The Central Government has notified the revised wage rates payable under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, which comes to effect today, coinciding with the nationwide commencement of the Act.
A defining feature of the notification is the introduction of a Rs 300 interim base wage rate, ensuring that no notified wage under the programme is below Rs 300 per day.
Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, "The commencement of the VB–G RAM G Act is a historic step towards building a Viksit Bharat through prosperous villages. Along with expanding the employment guarantee to 125 days, we have ensured better wages for rural workers. The largest increase has been provided to States where wages were historically lower, so that those who need the greatest support benefit the most.”
“This historic wage revision will strengthen rural livelihoods, increase purchasing power and accelerate inclusive development across rural India," he said.
The revised wage notification provides for an increase in wage rates across all States, Union Territories and wage regions, making it one of the most significant wage revisions under the national rural employment programme.
Wage rates increased across all 34 States/UTs and wage regions.
All the 21 States/UTs and administrative units have been brought up to the new Rs 300 interim base wage rate.
The national average notified wage has increased from Rs 298.8 per day under MGNREGA to Rs 327.4 per day under VB–G RAM G, representing an average increase of Rs 28.6 per day.
The average percentage increase across the country exceeds 10 per cent. Rs 300 becomes the new national benchmark for rural wages under VB- G RAM G.
For the first time under the national rural employment programme, an interim base wage rate of Rs 300 per day has been introduced.
Prior to this notification, wage rates in several States were below Rs 300, with the lowest notified wage being Rs 241 per day. Under the revised notification, every such State has been brought up to the new benchmark, significantly improving income security for rural workers while narrowing long-standing regional wage disparities. The new interim base wage rate directly benefits 21 States and administrative units.
Workers in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland receive the highest percentage increase of nearly 24.5 per cent, while substantial increases have also been notified for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and several other States.
States that already had wage rates above the interim base wage have also received revisions based on the prescribed methodology.
Following the notification, Haryana (Rs 409), Goa (Rs 406), Kerala (Rs 401) and Sikkim (High Altitude Gram Panchayats) (Rs 450) now have notified wage rates exceeding Rs 400 per day, compared to only one wage region under the previous wage structure.
