The Parliament’s winter session witnessed intense debate and protests on Tuesday as the government introduced a landmark bill to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA scheme with a new framework. The session, which began on December 1, is now in its final days and is scheduled to conclude on December 19, 2025.
Key Legislative Developments
1. The VB–G RAM G Bill (Replacing MGNREGA) Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, commonly referred to by its acronym VB–G RAM G.
- Employment Guarantee: The bill increases the statutory guarantee from 100 days to 125 days of wage employment per financial year for rural households.
- Funding Shift: Unlike MGNREGA (fully central-funded for wages), the new mission will be a centrally sponsored scheme with a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and States (90:10 for NE/Himalayan states).
- Thematic Focus: It shifts the focus toward creating “durable assets” in water security, rural infrastructure, and climate-resilient works.
2. The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill, 2025 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced this bill to amend the Insurance Act (1938), LIC Act (1956), and IRDAI Act (1999).
- 100% FDI: A major reform proposing to raise the Foreign Direct Investment limit in insurance from 74% to 100%.
- LIC Autonomy: Grants LIC more operational freedom, including opening zonal offices without prior government approval.
- IRDAI Powers: Enhances the regulator’s power to recover “wrongful gains” (disgorgement).
Opposition Protest and “Naming” Controversy
The introduction of the VB–G RAM G Bill triggered a fierce political face-off. Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, slammed the government for “erasing” Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: “Why is Mahatma Gandhi’s name being removed? Changing a name requires massive administrative spending on stationery and offices. This is a waste of money and time.”
- Political Flashpoint: Opposition MPs staged protests in the Parliament complex, accusing the BJP-RSS of a “conspiracy” to dismantle the rights-based framework of the original act.
- Acronym Row: Several MPs, including TMC’s Sagarika Ghose and CPIM’s John Brittas, criticized the use of the acronym ‘RAM’ in the bill, calling it a move to polarize the narrative around a rural welfare scheme.
Other Notable Mentions
- Vijay Diwas: Both Houses paid tribute to the armed forces on the 54th anniversary of Vijay Diwas, marking India’s victory in the 1971 war.
- Women Workers: In the Rajya Sabha, Sonia Gandhi raised concerns regarding the low pay and overburdening of ASHA and Anganwadi workers.