Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: A high-level inter-ministerial consultation on the Draft Convergence Framework under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB–G RAM G (विकसित भारत – जी राम जी) Act, 2025 was convened today, 24 June 2026, at Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi, under the chairpersonship of Shri Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development. Representatives and nodal officers from 18 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India participated in the consultation.
The consultation forms part of the preparatory activities being undertaken ahead of the commencement of the VB–G RAM G Act on 1 July 2026. The meeting focused on operationalising the Act’s vision of a whole-of-government approach to rural development through decentralized, Panchayati Raj Institution-led planning and convergence.
Chairing the meeting, Shri Rohit Kansal emphasized that convergence is a core pillar of the VB–G RAM G Act and is essential for addressing interconnected rural development priorities such as water security, livelihoods, infrastructure, climate resilience and local economic development. He noted that the Act envisages a “Single Plan – Multi Funding” approach, enabling different schemes and programmes to work towards common development outcomes while retaining their respective mandates and funding structures.
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The Department presented the Draft Convergence Framework developed under the Act. At the centre of the framework is the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP), which serves as the primary planning instrument for rural development at the Gram Panchayat level. Prepared through community participation and approved by the Gram Sabha, the VGPP seeks to integrate local needs with the resources, expertise and investments available under various Central and State schemes.
The Framework envisages a bottom-up planning architecture in which development priorities identified by Gram Sabhas are aggregated through Panchayati Raj Institutions and aligned with sectoral programmes of different Ministries and Departments. The approach aims to ensure that public investments converge around locally identified priorities, resulting in more effective and sustainable development outcomes.
The meeting also reviewed the thematic priorities and permissible works framework under the Act. The Act organizes rural development interventions under four thematic focus areas: Water Security; Core Rural Infrastructure; Rural Livelihoods; and Special Works for Mitigation of Extreme Weather Events. To facilitate operationalisation from 1 July 2026, the Department has notified an interim list of 318 permissible works covering natural resource management, irrigation, rural connectivity, community infrastructure, livelihood-supporting assets, climate resilience and disaster preparedness. The participants noted that the broad scope of permissible works provides substantial opportunities for convergence across sectors and schemes.
Detailed discussions were held on strengthening technical and financial convergence, identifying schemes suitable for convergence, enhancing digital interoperability, and establishing institutional mechanisms for coordinated implementation and monitoring. Participating Ministries and Departments shared their observations and suggestions on the Draft Framework.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Smt. Rohini Bhajibhakare, Joint Secretary (Rural Employment), Shri Ashish Gupta, Deputy Secretary (Rural Employment), and other senior officers of the Department of Rural Development.
The Convergence Framework is proposed to be operationalised from 1 July 2026 along with the commencement of the VB–G RAM G Act and is expected to strengthen decentralized planning, optimise public investments and accelerate integrated rural development through a coordinated whole-of-government approach.
