2005 – The Parliament enacts the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, establishing a legally enforceable right to at least 100 days of wage work per rural household and embedding social‑audit mechanisms, laying the foundation for India’s largest social‑security program [12].

2009 – The Act is renamed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), linking the scheme to Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj and cementing its rights‑based identity [12].

2023‑24 – Only 7 percent of rural households receive the full 100‑day guarantee, exposing a gap between statutory promises and on‑ground delivery [1].

Dec 15, 2025 – The Centre circulates the Viksit Bharat‑Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, proposing to replace MGNREGA, raise the guarantee to 125 days, and shift funding to a 60:40 Centre‑State split with states bearing 40 percent of costs [30].

Dec 16, 2025 – The government tables the VB‑G RAM G Bill in Parliament; opposition MPs march to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue demanding referral to a parliamentary committee, while the Union Rural Development Minister claims the Bill “aligns with Gandhiji’s sentiments” and will “balance agriculture and labour” [28].

Dec 17, 2025 – Editorials warn that the Bill would centralise decision‑making, replace the demand‑driven model, and cap allocations, noting that only 7 percent of families previously attained the full quota [27].

Dec 18, 2025 – The Lok Sabha passes the VB‑G RAM G Bill by voice vote, guaranteeing 125 days of work, creating a “VB National Rural Infrastructure Stack,” and rejecting opposition calls for a committee referral [25].

Dec 18, 2025 – The Congress Working Committee schedules a meeting for Dec 27 to formulate strategy against the Bill, linking the issue to upcoming 2026 state elections [26].

Dec 18, 2025 – Scholars, policymakers and lawyers issue an open letter urging the government to preserve MGNREGA’s funding and right‑to‑work provisions, warning that a 40‑100 percent state cost‑share could “collapse” the programme [24].

Dec 19, 2025 – Delhi Police deny a permit for a Jantar Mantar protest against the repeal; activists including Jean Drèze label the legislation a “bulldozer Bill” passed without discussion [22].

Dec 20, 2025 – Sonia Gandhi condemns the government’s “bulldozing” of MGNREGA, calling the repeal a “black law” that attacks millions of farmers, labourers and landless people [21].

Dec 21, 2025 – President Droupadi Murmu assents to the VB‑G RAM G Bill, officially replacing MGNREGA, raising the guarantee to 125 days, and introducing unemployment allowances and penalties for wage delays [18].

Dec 21, 2025 – Congress leader K.C. Venugopal tweets that the Bill “erodes the right‑to‑work” by capping funds and centralising control, and announces a Working Committee meeting on Dec 27 and Foundation‑Day actions on Dec 28 [19].

Dec 22, 2025 – The new G RAM G law expands the rural job guarantee to 125 days, shifts the funding ratio to 60:40 Centre‑State, and renames the scheme, prompting critics to warn of reduced rights and centralisation [1, 15].

Dec 23, 2025 – President’s assent is framed as a “renewal” rather than demolition; the Act retains gram‑panchayat planning, strengthens unemployment guarantees, and retains a 60:40 funding model with a 90:10 ratio for Himalayan and Northeastern states [13].

Dec 24, 2025 – Analysts note the Act dismantles the demand‑driven, rights‑based framework of MGNREGA, centralising funding and operational control, and removing Gandhi’s name, signalling an “ideological rupture” [12].

Dec 27, 2025 – Rahul Gandhi labels the Act a “devastating attack” on states and the poor, saying it was passed “without Cabinet approval” and announces a nationwide MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan starting Jan 5 [11]; civil‑society group Thannatchi calls the reform an “autocratic act” and urges legal steps to retain MGNREGA [10].

Dec 28, 2025 – At the Congress Foundation Day, senior leaders accuse the Centre of erasing Gandhi’s legacy, of imposing a 60:40 funding pattern, and of withholding funds from states like Telangana, urging village‑level resolutions against the rename [9].

Dec 28, 2025 – Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar attacks the AAP‑led special assembly session as a propaganda stunt to push the VB‑G RAM G scheme, contrasting the Centre’s claim of 125 days with the fiscal year’s average of 26 days of work [8].

Dec 29, 2025 – The Rural Development Ministry tells the Parliamentary Standing Committee that it will prevent “fake” MGNREGA demands during the transition, while MPs question how demand‑driven mechanisms will operate under the new law [7].

Jan 1, 2026 – CITU’s General Secretary Tapan Sen resolves to repeal the VB‑G RAM G Act, calling it an “anti‑federal” move that turns statutory entitlements into discretionary schemes and shifts 40 percent of costs to states [6].

Jan 3, 2026 – Congress launches the nationwide “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” (Jan 10‑Feb 25) to demand withdrawal of the VB‑G RAM G Act, planning district‑level press conferences, mass‑contact programmes, sit‑ins, gheraos and four major rallies [5].

Jan 5, 2026 – Rahul Gandhi’s announced “MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan” begins, mobilising protests across rural and urban areas to defend the right‑to‑work [11].

Jan 10, 2026 – Congress officially starts a 45‑day agitation against the VB‑G RAM G Act, holding district‑level press conferences and a day‑long fast, and outlining a phased mobilisation plan through Feb 25 [4].

Jan 11, 2026 – Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra and JD(S) leaders hold a joint press conference accusing Congress of misinformation, asserting the Centre will fund 125 days directly and that gram‑panchayat powers remain intact [3].

Feb 2, 2026 – Over 10,000 Karnataka workers gather at Freedom Park for a Mahapanchayat marking the 20th anniversary of MGNREGA, protesting the VB‑G RAM G framework that would make work contingent on project approval and bar employment for 60 days during sowing and harvesting [2].

Feb 7‑15, 2026 – Congress‑led gheraos target state legislative assemblies as part of the scheduled agitation against the VB‑G RAM G Act [4].

Feb 16‑25, 2026 – Four major Congress rallies take place nationwide, culminating the “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” and demanding restoration of the original rights‑based employment guarantee [4].