The Union government on Monday firmly defended the new rural employment law that has replaced the decades-old MGNREGA scheme, making it clear that the legislation is final and now ready for implementation across the country.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 was passed after due parliamentary process and cannot be rolled back. Speaking to reporters after an all-party meeting ahead of the Budget Session, Rijiju dismissed the Opposition’s demand for a fresh discussion on the law in Parliament.
“We cannot move backwards once Parliament has taken a decision. The country has to move forward,” the minister said, signalling that the government has no plans to revisit the legislation.
Addressing claims that the Centre failed to inform Opposition parties about its legislative agenda, Rijiju said all constitutional and parliamentary conventions were being followed. He clarified that the government formally shares its business roadmap after the President’s address at the start of the year’s first session.
The new law introduces a redesigned framework for rural employment and livelihood support, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which had been in force since 2005. The government has described the new mission as more outcome-oriented, with a stronger focus on sustainable livelihoods rather than short-term wage employment alone.
