Supreme Court on MGNREGA

Notes

• The Supreme Court bench, led by CJI Surya Kant, characterized the repealed MGNREGA as a salutary, effective, and pan-India scheme that was neither a freebie nor exploitative.
• The successor legislation, the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G Act), has replaced the demand-driven, rights-based framework of MGNREGA with a centrally controlled model.
• Reports indicate a 50% decline in employment generation under the new VB-G RAM G Act, despite an increase in guaranteed work days from 100 to 125 per household annually.
• The funding structure for rural employment has shifted from a 90:10 (Centre:State) ratio under MGNREGA to a 60:40 ratio under the new legislation, increasing the fiscal burden on States.
• Petitioners sought to elevate the statutory guarantee of rural work to a fundamental right under Article 21, arguing that employment at minimum wages is essential for a dignified life.
• The Supreme Court noted that the right to work is currently categorized as a Directive Principle of State Policy (Part IV) rather than a fundamental right under the Constitution.
• The Court emphasized that the legal challenges regarding the new legislation must be examined based on fresh statistics and current implementation data rather than the framework of the repealed MGNREGA.

Part of a longer story

This is day 14 of 17 in Replacement of MGNREGA with Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission, which has been running since 24 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

• MGNREGA employment decline Before
• VB-G RAM G scheme e-KYC status After
• The whole story 17 entries