Question

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was passed in which of the following years?

• A. 2004
• B. 2005
• C. 2009
• D. 2006

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 2005

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

• The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was enacted in 2005.
• It was later renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2010.
• This landmark legislation guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
• The primary objective of the Act is to provide livelihood security in rural areas by guaranteeing employment.
• It also aims to create durable rural assets and strengthen the rural economy.
• The Act mandates that at least one-third of the beneficiaries must be women.
• MGNREGA is a flagship program of the Indian government aimed at inclusive growth.
• It is considered one of the world's largest employment guarantee schemes.
• The law was passed by the Parliament of India on August 23, 2005, and came into force on February 2, 2006.

Key Features and Provisions:

• Right to Work: It provides a legal guarantee of employment to rural job cardholders.
• Demand-Driven: Employment is provided on demand, meaning individuals can request work.
• Unskilled Manual Labour: The scheme focuses on providing employment for unskilled manual labour.
• Minimum 100 Days Guarantee: Eligible households are guaranteed 100 days of work. If not provided, they are entitled to unemployment allowances.
• Social Audit: The Act emphasizes transparency and accountability through social audits.
• Decentralized Planning: Planning and implementation involve Gram Panchayats, Intermediate Panchayats, and District Panchayats.
• Focus on Rural Infrastructure: Projects undertaken under MGNREGA typically involve the creation of rural infrastructure such as roads, wells, and water conservation structures.