National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA/MGNREGA), 2005
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Legislative action — a bill, act, or amendment that creates or modifies the legal framework. Carries binding force and shapes the rules under which citizens, institutions, and markets operate.
Summary
Guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The world's largest public works programme, providing a social safety net to millions. Later renamed MGNREGA.
Key Facts
Type Legislation
Source Historical Record (Curated)
Published Thursday, 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 I Congress-led UPA
Left Centre Right
Impact Assessment
9 /10
Impact Score Beneficiaries 7.8 crore households (2025-26)
Budget Allocation Rs 86K Crore
Coverage All states and UTs
Implementation Status Operational 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