L. A. BILL No. XXXVII OF 2026.

A BILL

further to amend the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977.

WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session;

AND WHEREAS the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that

circumstances existed which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate

action further to amend the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977,

for the purposes hereinafter appearing ; and, therefore, promulgated the

Maharashtra Employment Guarantee (Amendement) Ordinance, 2026 on the

16th June 2026 ;

Mah.

XX of

1978.

Mah.

Ord.

VIII of

2026.

भाग पाच-अ-३४–१

(१)

RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/40123

महाराष्टट्रõ शासन राजपत्र

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ

वर््ष १२, अंक १८(२)]

बुधवार, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

[पृष््ठठे 8, किंमत : रुपये ३६.००

असाधारण क्रमांक ३४

प्राधिकृत प्रकाशन

महाराष्टट्र विधानसभेत व महाराष्टट्र विधानपरिषदेत सादर केलेली विधेयके इंग्रजी अनुवाद.

MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT

The following Bill was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the 24th June,

2026 is published under Rule 117 of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rules :—

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

AND WHEREAS, it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance, by an

Act of the State Legislature ; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year

of the Republic of India as follows :––

1. (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee

(Amendment) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 16th June 2026.

2. In section 2 of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977

(hereinafter referred to as “the principal Act”),-

(1) for clause (a-1), the following clause shall be substituted, namely :—

“(a-1) “Central Act” means the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for

Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB – G RAM G (विकसित

भारत—जी राम जी) Act, 2025 ; ” ;

(2) clause (a-2) shall be deleted ;

(3) clause (e-2) shall be deleted ;

(4) after clause (j), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :—

“(j-1) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to this Act;”;

(5) for clause (l), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:—

“ (l) “State Council” means the Maharashtra State Gramin Rozgar

Guarantee Council constituted under section 4;”;

(6) after clause (l), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :—

“(l-1) “State Level Steering Committee” means a State Level

Steering Committee constituted under sub-section (1) of section 4-A

of this Act ;”;

(7) after clause (m-1), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: -

“(m-2) VB -G RAM G State Fund of Maharashtra” means the

Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Scheme

State Fund of Maharashtra constituted under section 12-A of this

Act;”.

3. In section 3 of the principal Act,-

(1) in sub-section (1), for the words, brackets and figures “sub-section (1)

of section 3” the words, brackets and figures “sub-section (1) of section 5”

shall be substituted;

(2) in sub-section (2), for the words, brackets and figures “ beyond

the period specified in sub-section (1) of section 3” the words, brackets and

figure “ in addition to the period specified in sub-section (1) of section 5”

shall be substituted.

4. In section 3-A of the principal Act, in sub-section (2), after the words

“operation will continue.” the following portion shall be added, namely :—

“The State Government shall also make such summary publicly

available through electronic means, including the official website of the

State Government or any designated digital platform.”.

Short title and

commencement.

Amendment of

section 2 of Mah.

XX of 1978.

Mah. XX

of 1978.

36 of

2025.

Amendment of

section 3 of Mah.

XX of 1978.

Amendment of

section 3-A of

Mah. XX of

1978.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

5. In section 3-C of the principal Act,—

(1) in sub-section (1), for the word and figure “section 6” the word and

figures “section 10” shall be substituted;

(2) to sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be added, namely :—

“Provided that, additional amount to the wage rate may be

notified by the State Government for different unskilled manual work

and for different areas.”.

6. In section 4 of the principal Act,-

(1) in sub-section (1), for the words “the Maharashtra State

Employment Guarantee Council” the words “the Maharashtra State

Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council” shall be substituted;

(2) for the marginal note, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

“State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council”.

7. After section 4 of the principal Act, the following section shall be

inserted, namely :—

“4-A. (1) The State Government shall constitute a State Level

Steering Committee to provide operational guidance, coordination, and

monitor the implementation of the Scheme.

(2) The State Level Steering Committee constituted under sub-section

(1), shall be presided over by the Chief Secretary of the State or by an

officer not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary nominated by the

State Government and shall comprise of the following members, namely :—

(a) Principal Secretary or Secretary of the respective Department;

(b) the Director or Commissioner (in-charge of the Scheme);

the State Government;

(d) such number of subject-matter experts, as may be determined

by the State Government;

(e) representatives of technical or research institutions; and

(f) one member nominated by the Department of Rural

Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

(3) The State Level Steering Committee shall,—

(a) oversee State wide planning and convergence with other

programmes ;

(b) review of district performance and ensure timely preparation

of the aggregate State plan;

implement directions issued therefrom;

(d) support digital systems, monitoring arrangements, and

process improvements at the State level; and

(e) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the

State Government.”.

Amendment of

section 4 of Mah.

XX of 1978.

Insertion of

section 4-A in

Mah. XX of 1978.

State Level

Steering

Committee.

Amendment of

section 3-C of

Mah. XX of 1978.

भाग पाच-अ-३४–१अ

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

8. For section 12-A of the principal Act, the following section shall be

substituted, namely :—

“12-A. (1) The State Government shall separately constitute a fund

called as VB -G RAM G State Fund of Maharashtra, as required under

section 22 of the Central Act. Such Fund shall not be the part of the

Employment Guarantee Fund constituted under section 12.

(2) Any sum received under section 30 of the Central Act and the

contribution of the State Government as required under section 22 of

the Central Act shall be credited to the VB -G RAM G State Fund of

Maharashtra.

(3) The amount standing to the credit of the VB -G RAM G State

Fund of Maharashtra shall be expended in rural areas in such manner

and subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed by the

State Government for the purpose of implementation of this Act.

(4) The VB -G RAM G State Fund of Maharashtra shall be held and

administered on behalf of the State Government in such manner and by

such authority as may be prescribed.

(5) On completion of a work taken up under the Scheme under the

Central Act, if it is necessary to take up additional skilled work of that

completed work, for upgradation in technical quality of said work or as

value addition, the State Government may provide supplementary funds

as necessary or provide for convergence.”.

9. In section 14-A of the principal Act,—

(1) for the words “one thousand rupees” the words “ten thousand

rupees” shall be substituted;

(2) for the words and figures “section 27 of the Central Act” the words

and figures “section 29 of the Central Act” shall be substituted.

10. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of the

principal Act, as amended by this Act, the State Government may, as occasion

arises, by an order published in the Official Gazette, do anything not inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act, which appears to it to be necessary or expedient

for removing the difficulty :

Provided that, no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of

two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may

be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature.

11. (1) The Maharashtra Employment Guarantee (Amendment)

Ordinance 2026, is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken

(including any notification, rules or order issued) under the corresponding

provisions of the principal Act, as amended by the said Ordinance, shall be

deemed to have been done, taken or, as the case may be, issued under the

corresponding provisions of the principal Act, as amended by this Act.

Substitution of

section 12-A of

Mah. XX of 1978.

VB -G RAM G

State Fund of

Maharashtra.

Amendment

of section

14-A of

Mah. XX of

1978.

Power to

remove

difficulty.

Repeal of

Mah. Ord.

VIII of 2026

and saving.

Mah. Ord.

VIII of 2026.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 (Mah. XX of 1978)

(hereinafter referred to as “the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act”)

has been enacted to make effective provisions for securing right of work by

guaranteeing employment to all adult persons who volunteer to do unskilled

manual work in the rural areas of the State. Various employment guarantee

schemes under the said Act have been successfully implemented in the State.

2. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act,

2005 (42 of 2005) has been enacted by the Parliament on similar lines of the

Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act guaranteeing unskilled employment

in rural areas. Section 28 of the MGNREG Act, inter alia provides that, where

the State enactment exists or is enacted to provide employment guarantee to

rural household consistent with the provisions of this Act under which the

conditions of employment were not inferior to the conditions guaranteed under

this Act, the State Government shall have the option of implementing its own

enactment. The Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act contains more

beneficial provisions compared to the provisions in the MGNREG Act regarding

employment guarantee to unskilled work in rural areas. Therefore, even after

enactment of the MGNREG Act, the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act

continued to operate in the State after making it consistent with the MGNREG

Act by suitably amending the same as per said section 28.

3. The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

(Gramin): VB – G RAM G (वि�कसि�त भारत—जी राम जी) Act, 2025 (36 of 2025) has

been enacted by the Parliament and section 37 thereof provides for repeal of the

MGNREG Act. Section 30 of the VB-G RAM G Act contains provisions similar

to the provisions of section 28 of the MGNREG Act regarding continuation of

application of more beneficial State enactment. Therefore, in order to continue

the operation of the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act it was necessary

to amend the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act to make it in consonance

with the VB-G RAM G Act, as per provisions of said section 30.

4. As both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session and the

Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which

rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the

Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977, for the purposes aforesaid, the

Maharashtra Employment Guarantee (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Mah.

Ord. VIII of 2026), was promulgated by the Governor of Maharashtra on the

16th June 2026.

5. The Bill is intended to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the

State Legislature.

BHARAT GOGAWALE,

Mumbai,

Minister for

Dated the 22nd June, 2026.

Employment Guarantee Scheme.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

The Bill involves the following proposals for delegation of legislative

powers, namely :—

Clause 7.—Under this clause, which seeks to insert new section 4-A,

in the Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 (Mah. XX of 1978),

power is taken to the State Government to constitute, the State Level

Steering Committee.

Clause 8.—Under this clause, which seeks to substitute section 12-A

of the Act,—

(i) under sub-section (3), the power is taken to the State

Government to prescribe by rules, the manner, conditions and

limitations subject to which the amount standing to the credit of the

VB-G RAM G State Fund of Maharashtra shall be expended ;

(ii) under sub-section (4), the power is taken to the State

Government to prescribe by rules, the manner and the authority which

shall administer the VB-G RAM G State Fund of Maharashtra ;

Clause 10.—Under this clause, power is taken to the State Government

to issue an order in the Official Gazette, for removing any difficulty which

may arise in giving effect to the provisions of the said Act.

2. The above-mentioned proposals for delegation of legislative powers

are of a normal character.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

Clause 8 of the Bill provides to substitute section 12-A of the Maharashtra

Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 (Mah. XX of 1978) to provide for constitution

of VB – G RAM G State Fund of Maharashtra. From the said Fund various

employment guarantee schemes will be implemented in the State with

contribution from the Central Government as well as the State Government.

Therefore, the Bill would involve current estimated recurring expenditure of

rupees 9252.32 Crores from the Consolidated Fund of the State for the Financial

Year 2026-27 on its enactment as an Act of the State Legislature.

महाराष्ट्रõ शासन रा

असाधारण भाग पाच-अ, जून २४, २०२६/आषाढ ३, शके १९४८

GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDATION UNDER ARTICLE 207 OF

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

(Copy of Government of Maharashtra Order, Law and Judiciary Department)

In exercise of the power conferred upon him by clause (3) of Article 207 of

the Constitution of India, the Governor of Maharashtra is pleased to recommend

to both Houses of the State Legislature, the Consideration of the Maharashtra

Employment Guarantee (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Vidhan Bhavan :

JITENDRA BHOLE,

Mumbai,

Secretary-1,

Dated : 24th June, 2026.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,

RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD,

MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS,

21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.