India’s rural employment guarantee has entered a new phase. In July 2026, the VB-G RAM G Act replaced MGNREGA, changing how much work is guaranteed, who funds it, how it’s allocated, and how it’s delivered.
As part of the Common Ground knowledge series, we hosted a Dialogue on VB-G RAM G with voices from research, policy, and grassroots implementation, to decode the new rules and think through what civil society can do to keep rural communities at the centre of this transition.
A few roles emerged clearly:
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Track the impact with independent data
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Build the capacity of the frontline functionaries carrying the shift
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Support accountability through social audits
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Help shape the system while its design is still evolving
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Engage with rural communities to help them navigate the change
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Build evidence of the durable ecological assets the programme helps create
Watch the full dialogue here:
