A Short History of MGNREGA: Twenty Years in Ten Charts

Jean Dreze and Rahul R.

Economics Working Paper Archive from Levy Economics Institute

Abstract: India's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), enacted in 2005, is an experiment of major significance. Drawing on official statistics, this paper presents a broad-brush retrospective on MGNREGA's first 20 years, focusing inter alia on employment generation, the participation of marginalized groups, real wages, administrative expenditure, and comparative experiences of different Indian states. The program is an important demonstration of the possibility of a legal job guarantee, but its practical achievements are still heavily concentrated in a few states.

Date: 2025-10
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