VB-GRAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA: 68% Drop in Employment, SC Flags Right to Work

SC: Right to Walk on Demarcated Footpaths is Fundamental Right under Article 19(1)(d) & Article 21

The Supreme Court declared the right to walk on demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right under Articles 19(1)(d) and 21, prioritizing pedestrians over motorized vehicles. It has now directed all states and UTs to respond on implementation, making it a high-yield topic for Prelims (constitutional articles, dates) and Mains (urban governance, fundamental rights).

Parliamentary Panel Flags DDU-GKY Employment Gap; 18.38 Lakh Trained, 11.94 Lakh Placed

A parliamentary committee has found that many candidates trained under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) are not securing jobs or are underpaid, and fund utilization across major rural skilling schemes is poor. This highlights systemic skill-employment mismatch and the need for robust placement tracking and post-placement support.

Parliamentary Panel Report: Health Spend at 1.4% vs 2.5% GDP Target; Article 21 Right to Health

The Standing Committee's 176th report has yet again flagged India's stagnant public health spend—1.4% of GDP against the 2.5% target in the National Health Policy, 2017. Its proposed hospital-vs-hotel benchmarking overlooks the constitutional right to health under Article 21. With private equity flowing into healthcare and the Supreme Court examining regulation under the Clinical Establishments Act, this is an important multi-dimensional issue for aspirants.

Centre Mandates 60:40 Centre-State Funding Split for VB-G RAM-G Rural Employment Scheme

The Centre has shifted the funding pattern of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (now VB-G RAM-G) from 100% central funding to a 60:40 Centre-State split (90:10 for Himalayan/Northeast states). This marks a major fiscal federalism change, with states allocating full 40% despite political opposition. Essential for Prelims (ratio, scheme name) and Mains (fiscal federalism, rural wage floor).

VB-G RAM G Reports 49.94% YoY Decline in Rural Employment Generation in July 2026

The government replaced the two-decade-old MGNREGS with the new VB-G RAM G scheme from July 1, 2026. First-month data shows a sharp 49.94% year-on-year drop in person-days (7.67 crore) and a 51.45% fall in households availing work (68.94 lakh). This decline, the lowest in five years, raises concerns about rural demand and the fallback for agricultural labourers during an erratic monsoon.

VB-G RAM G Launch Sees 40%+ Employment Crash vs MGNREGA July 2025

India's new rural employment guarantee scheme (VB-G RAM G) replacing MGNREGA has witnessed a catastrophic 40%+ decline in employment generation in its first month (July 2026) compared to the same month last year. With some of India's poorest states seeing near-zero employment for months, this poses a severe rural distress risk and is a critical topic for exams.

Tata Trusts’ 66% Stake & Affirmative Voting Rights under Articles 104B, 121: SC Verdict Explained

Tata Trusts, holding about 66% of Tata Sons, are challenging the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman, citing the affirmative voting rights of their nominee directors under the Articles of Association. The Supreme Court’s 2021 Tata-Mistry judgment upheld these special rights, making it the key legal backdrop to the current boardroom dispute. For exams, this news tests corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and the binding force of a company’s Articles.

NFSA Amendment Replaces 35 kg AAY Rations with 7 kg Per Capita, Cuts 80% for Solo Women

The proposed amendment to the National Food Security Act (NFSA) replaces the 35 kg monthly household ration for Antyodaya (AAY) families with a per-capita system of 7 kg per person (capped at 35 kg). This will drastically cut entitlements for 53% of AAY households (those with fewer than 5 members), hitting the poorest hardest — especially 1 million single women, mostly widows, who will lose 80% of their foodgrain.