The Union Cabinet is poised to approve a proposal to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to the “Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Guarantee Bill 2025.”
The change reflects the government’s effort to honour the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi as India’s landmark rural jobs programme turns two decades old. The move comes ahead of key political events and signals continued focus on rural employment initiatives.
What is MGNREGA & When Was It Announced?
MGNREGA was originally launched in 2005 when the central government passed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to boost rural employment and income security. The scheme guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.
It remains one of the world’s largest social security programmes focused on livelihood protection. The Act was implemented nationally in phases, aiming to create durable assets such as roads, canals, ponds, and other community infrastructure.
Why the Government Wants to Rename MGNREGA?
Officials say renaming the law is a symbolic step to reaffirm the programme’s Gandhian roots. By branding it the Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Guarantee Bill 2025, the government aims to link the scheme even more closely with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of the upliftment of rural India.
Supporters of the change believe it will boost rural sentiment and reinforce the scheme’s positioning as a core social safety net. Critics may argue about the timing and political optics, but proponents maintain that the name reflects respect for a national figure and continuity of purpose.
What is Provided Under the MGNREGA Scheme?
MGNREGA provides:
- Guaranteed wage employment: Up to 100 days of paid manual labour annually for eligible rural households.
- Work on public assets: Employment includes construction of roads, water conservation structures, plantations, irrigation canals, and drought-proofing works.
- Wage payments: Workers are paid minimum wages as per government norms, usually through bank or post office accounts.
- Social protection: The law includes provisions for unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days of seeking it.
The scheme also embeds transparency provisions, social audits, and statutory timeframes for payments.
MGNREGA Scheme: Who Are the Beneficiaries?
MGNREGA primarily benefits:
- Rural households with adult members willing to do unskilled manual labour.
- Women workers, who often make up a significant share of wages earned under the Act.
- Small and marginal farmers, landless labourers, and vulnerable communities seeking work security.
- Dalits, Adivasis, and other backward classes who rely on wage employment as a key livelihood source.
The scheme’s design explicitly promotes inclusive participation and gender parity among workers.
Impact of MGNREGA on Rural India
Over the past two decades, MGNREGA has:
- Provided job opportunities to millions of rural households year after year.
- Helped create community assets that support agriculture and water conservation.
- Offered a financial safety net during economic slowdowns and climate shocks.
- The policy has been both praised for its scale and debated for implementation challenges, but it remains central to rural livelihoods.
MGNREGA Act: Political & Economic Context
The timing of the renaming proposal aligns with increased emphasis on rural development ahead of elections. Supporters see the move as strengthening rural confidence in government intent. Economists note that while a name change alone doesn’t alter implementation, symbolic shifts can influence public sentiment.