MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)
Statutory entitlement under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, that guarantees at least 100 days of unskilled manual wage employment per financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do such work.
Why UPSC tests this
High-frequency UPSC topic. Common angles: demand-driven nature, social audit by Gram Sabha, the difference between MGNREGA and predecessor NREGS, and the wage indexation mechanism.
Latest from PIB
8 on this page- 30 Apr 2026Ministry of Rural Development
Rural job demand under MGNREGS falls by over a third in April
Demand for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), now rebranded as VB-G RAM G, fell by over a third in April 2026 compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to seasonal agricultural activity during the Rabi harvest and potentially increased industrial activity…
- 11 Nov 2025Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan to inaugurate the ‘Watershed Mahotsav’ on the second day of the National Watershed Conference in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh tomorrow
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the 'Watershed Mahotsav' during the National Watershed Conference in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Organized by DoLR, the conference reviews PMKSY 2.0 progress and launches 'Mission Watershed Revitalisation', focusing on asset maintenance through MGNREGA and public pa…
- 20 Jan 2025Ministry of Rural Development
Review of National Mobile Monitoring System for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
This PIB release details the ongoing review and implementation of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) for MGNREGS. It highlights that NMMS and the Area Officer App are in-house developed technology solutions by NIC-DRD, with no separate dedicated expenditure or staff. State Governments are responsible for staf…
- 15 Jun 2024Ministry of Rural Development
Convergence of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
This PIB release details the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), highlighting its objective to provide 100 days of employment and create productive assets. It specifies permissible activities under rural infrastructure and natural resource management, including road connectivity and wat…
- 15 Jun 2024Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Implementation of NeFMS for DBT of Wages
This PIB release details the implementation and features of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), emphasizing wage payment through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). It outlines provisions for guaranteed employment, additional days for specific beneficiaries like ST households and disaster-a…
- 12 Jun 2024Ministry of Rural Development
Commitment to the smooth implementation of MGNREGA and ensuring timely employment to workers
The Ministry of Rural Development reviewed MGNREGA implementation, emphasizing timely employment and wage payments. An allocation of ₹17,744.19 crore was announced for MGNREGA's wage component for FY 2026-27. States are also preparing for the rollout of the new Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission…
- 12 Jun 2024Ministry of Rural Development
Commitment to the smooth implementation of MGNREGA and ensuring timely employment to workers
The Ministry of Rural Development reviewed MGNREGA implementation and preparedness for the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Act. Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized timely employment and wage payments under MGNREGA, announcing a ₹17,744.19 crore release as…
- 1 Jun 2024Ministry of Rural Development Strengthens Preparedness to Safeguard Rural Schemes Amid West Asia Cri
Ministry of Rural Development Strengthens Preparedness to Safeguard Rural Schemes Amid West Asia Crisis
The Ministry of Rural Development reviewed its preparedness to ensure uninterrupted implementation of major rural welfare schemes amid potential global supply chain disruptions from the West Asia crisis. Key programs like MGNREGA (soon to be replaced by VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 with 125 days of employment) and PMAY-G (targ…
Frequently asked
- How many days of employment does MGNREGA guarantee?
- At least 100 days of unskilled manual wage employment per rural household per financial year. The Act allows the Centre to extend this in scheduled circumstances such as natural disasters.
- Is MGNREGA demand-driven or supply-driven?
- Demand-driven — work has to be provided within 15 days of a household demanding it; otherwise, an unemployment allowance is payable by the State.
- Who conducts MGNREGA social audits?
- The Gram Sabha, supported by the State's Social Audit Unit (SAU). Social audits are mandated under the Act.
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