# New rural job scheme may quadruple states’ costs, study says 2026-08-09T09:56:06+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A transition from MGNREGA to the new VB G RAM G rural employment scheme could quadruple state governments' fiscal burden to around Rs 35,300 crore in FY27, according to a report by Systematix Group. States like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh may see allocations rise 24 times and 21.3 times respectively. The study warns rural employment has weakened, with person-days in Q1 FY27 down nearly 40% year-on-year and at a 12-year low. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged a 49.94% decline in person-days in July, the first month under VB G RAM G, calling it 'rozgar chori'. The government claims the scheme offers a guarantee of 125 days of work and increased central oversight, but critics say additional digital compliance and budget-driven funding limit actual employment. ## Coverage - deccanchronicle.com - nationalheraldindia.com Tags: El Nino, MGNREGA, rural employment, state fiscal burden, Systematix, VB G RAM G Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/state-fiscal-burden-to-quadruple-under-new-rural-job-scheme/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/state-fiscal-burden-to-quadruple-under-new-rural-job-scheme/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.