The Union government has asked Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to organise special gram sabha meetings by December 26. The goal is to create widespread awareness about the recently passed Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgaar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025. This new jobs guarantee scheme replaces the 20-year-old MGNREGA and aims to strengthen rural employment and livelihood opportunities. On December 21, officials from the Department of Rural Development and Ministry of Panchayati Raj jointly sent a letter to State Chief Secretaries. It requires them to hold gram sabhas, document them with photos and videos, and upload these on the Panchayat Nirnay app in real time. The government said it will closely monitor this process. The VB-G RAM G Act increases guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125. However, it also shifts more financial burden to states, raising their contribution from 10% to 40%. The new law limits employment to notified rural areas and sets fixed budget caps decided by the Union government, though the criteria remain unclear. Opposition voices the strong discontent. The Left-affiliated All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) urged its members to actively reject the Act in these gram sabhas and called for the old MGNREGA scheme to be restored. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi condemned the law as a "black law" meant to weaken a scheme vital to poor and vulnerable people. She vowed to fight against it. The Act was passed during the Winter Session of Parliament and signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu. It is described as "historic" and aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 by the Union government.