Opposition, activists oppose new Bill replacing MGNREGA

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which seeks to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), faced strong opposition in Parliament. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Rural Development Minister, will respond to the debate on Thursday. DMK’s K. Kanimozhi and others criticized the bill for its top-down approach, increased financial burden on states, and removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme. The opposition also raised concerns about the bill's impact on women and the economy.