Revised Wages under MGNREGS | 28 Mar 2024

The Union government recently announced revised wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), prompting varied responses from different states.

Several states reported an increase in wages ranging from 8% to 10%. The Union Rural Development Ministry obtained special permission from the Election Commission for this routine annual exercise, considering the constraints imposed by the model code of conduct.
- Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Goa recorded notable hikes ranging from 8% to 10.5%.
Haryana offers the highest wages at Rs 374 per day, whereas Uttar Pradesh has one of the lowest at Rs 237.
- The revised rates will come into effect from 1^st April 2024.
Despite the revision, the nation-wide average days of employment provided per household in the financial year 2023-24 remained at 51 days, falling short of the promised 100 days.
Launched in 2005, MGNREGA is one of the world's largest work guarantee programs, initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development.