Revised wage rates notified under VB–G RAM G Act from 1 July
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The Government notified revised wage rates under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, effective 1 July 2026 when the Act began. A new ₹300 interim base wage means no notified wage is below ₹300 a day. The national average rose from ₹298.8 under MGNREGA to ₹327.4, and States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar get rises of 15% to 25%.
- Notified
- 30 Jun 2026, Ministry of Rural Development; effective 1 Jul 2026
- Floor
- ₹300 a day interim base wage (earlier lowest ₹241)
- National average
- ₹298.8 (MGNREGA) to ₹327.4 (VB-G RAM G), up ₹28.6
- Coverage
- all 34 States/UTs and wage regions; 21 brought up to ₹300
- Highest rise
- Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, nearly 24.5%
- Above ₹400
- Haryana ₹409, Goa ₹406, Kerala ₹401, Sikkim high-altitude GPs ₹450
The VB-G RAM G wage notification: what happened?
A guarantee of work means little if the day’s wage is too low. The new law came with a new wage sheet. The biggest gains go to States where rural wages were lowest, so this notification is also about narrowing gaps between regions.
- Every State, UT and wage region got a raise; the average increase exceeds 10%.
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh see increases of 15% to 25%.
- Kerala, Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka have rates above ₹360, up to ₹409.
- The method combines annual indexation with the new interim base wage.
What does the Act guarantee?
- 125 days of wage employment to every eligible rural household.
- Wages are notified under the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.
Why does the VB-G RAM G wage notification matter?
- Equity: Largest gains in historically low-wage States.
- Income: Higher rural purchasing power from day one of the new Act.
What can Prelims ask on the VB-G RAM G wage notification?
- VB-G RAM G wages effective 1 July 2026; ₹300 interim base wage.
- Average ₹298.8 to ₹327.4; earlier lowest ₹241.
- Highest % rise: Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland (nearly 24.5%).
What should UPPCS aspirants note?
- Uttar Pradesh is named among the States getting an increase in the range of 15% to 25%.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-06-30): revised wage rates under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act, 2025 were notified with effect from 1 July 2026, when the Act commences nationwide.
- Bigger raises for low-wage States narrow inter-State gaps in rural wages.
Quotable data pointNo notified wage is below ₹300; average increase over 10%; UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal and Himachal get 15–25% increases; Kerala, Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka will have rates over ₹360 up to ₹409.
PIB: Rural Development: VB–G RAM G wages, 30 Jun 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: VB–G RAM G Act name and start date. · Mains: rural employment guarantee design.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Before the VB-G RAM G wage notification of 2026, the lowest notified rural employment wage was
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (Rural Development), 30 Jun 2026.
Questions students ask about this
What is the minimum wage under VB-G RAM G from 1 July 2026?
A ₹300 a day interim base wage; no notified wage is below ₹300.
How much did the national average wage rise?
From ₹298.8 a day under MGNREGA to ₹327.4 under VB-G RAM G, an increase of ₹28.6.
Which States got the highest percentage increase?
Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, nearly 24.5%.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Rural Development: VB–G RAM G wages, 30 Jun 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending