Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005
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Policy framework or directive — a strategic document setting direction, principles, and objectives for governance. Guides the design of schemes, legislation, and implementation strategies.
Summary
Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. The world's largest work guarantee programme, covering over 700 districts.
Key Facts
TypeAct
SourceHistorical Record
PublishedThursday, 25 August 2005
Affected Population~900 million rural population, 250,000 gram panchayats
Key Numbers
PMAY-G: 2.95 crore houses sanctioned
PMGSY: 7.25 lakh km rural roads
SHG network: 9 crore women members
4 Labour Codes consolidating 29 laws
Key Authorities
Key Stakeholders
Government Context
UPA ICongress-led UPA
LeftCentreRight
Impact Assessment
9/10
Impact ScoreBeneficiaries7.8 crore households (2025-26)
Budget AllocationRs 86K Crore
CoverageAll states and UTs
Implementation StatusOperational
92% implemented
Key Outcomes
- World's largest employment guarantee programme
- 290+ crore person-days of work generated annually
- Critical safety net during economic shocks and pandemics
Challenges
- Wage payment delays
- Muster roll fraud
- Declining real wage rates
SDG Alignment
Amendment History
1 change recorded for this policy.
TypeSunday, 19 July 2026via historical
act