The Supreme Court of India upheld the order of the Calcutta High Court directing the Centre to resume MGNREGS in West Bengal, clearing a key obstacle.
About MGNREGA:
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005,
Objective: MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments
The Gram Panchayat after due verification will issue a Job Card. The Job Card should be issued within 15 days of application.
Employment will be given within 15 days of application for work, if it is not then daily unemployment allowance as per the Act, has to be paid liability of payment of unemployment allowance is of the States.
Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural labourers in the State,
The act mandates Gram sabhas to recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at least 50% of the works must be executed by them.
Social audits mandatory to ensure transparency.
Fund release: Central Government provides 100% wage cost + 75% of material cost in plains (90% in hilly/desert areas).
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
