MGNREGA: Benefits, Application Process and Eligibility

MGNREGA stands for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. It is an employment scheme by the Ministry of Rural Development to provide a minimum of 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. Any Indian citizen above 18 years of age residing in a rural area can register under this scheme. Once registered, the individual will get guaranteed employment within 15 days of registration.  

MGNREGA focuses on creating sustainable development and poverty alleviation in rural India. It aims to build durable rural infrastructure, like roads, canals, and water conservation works.

What is MGNREGA?

The entire country, excluding districts that have a 100% urban population, is covered under the MGNREGA scheme. The scheme was launched on 7 September 2025. The first implementation took place on 2 February 2025 across 130 districts. Here is a quick overview of the scheme with details of the launch date and objective: 

Eligibility Criteria for MGNREGA

For registering under the MGNREGA scheme, individuals must be:

• At least 18 years of age
• A resident of a rural area.

How to Apply for MGNREGA?

To apply for MGNREGA, you first need to get an MGNREGA Job Card through your local Gram Panchayat. You can either apply online or offline. 

Offline MGNREGA Application Process

1. Visit the Gram Panchayat Office

• Go to your local Gram Panchayat in the village where you reside.
• Ask for the MGNREGA Job Card application form (Form No. 1).

2. Fill Out the Application Form

• Enter the required details like your name, age, gender, address, family details, Aadhaar number (optional but commonly required), and Bank/Post Office account details. 

3. Submit Required Documents

• Attach the mandatory documents in the prescribed format.

4. Verification by Gram Panchayat

• The Panchayat verifies your identity and residence.
• They may conduct a field inquiry if needed.
• Verification is usually completed within 15 days.

5. Issuance of Job Card

• After approval, the household receives an MGNREGA Job Card.
• The Job Card contains details like the Names of all adult members, Unique Job Card number, and Photograph of the applicant.
• It must be issued within 15 days of application.

6. Request for Work

• After receiving the Job Card, submit a written work demand (Form No. 6) at the Gram Panchayat.
• The Panchayat must provide work within 15 days of demand.
• If work is not given, the applicant is eligible for unemployment allowance.

Online MGNREGA Application Process

• Go to the state MGNREGA/Rural Development portal or UMANG app and register. 
• Choose “Apply for Job Card”. 
• Fill in personal and household details.
• Upload documents and submit the form.
• After online submission, physical verification is still done. 
• The Job Card is issued by the Gram Panchayat after verification. 

Documents Required for MGNREGA

Individuals must have the following documents for MGNREGA registration:

• Photograph of Applicant
• Name, Age, and Gender of all NREGA Job Card Applicants from the applicant’s household
• Name of Village, Gram Panchayat, Block
• Proof of Identity (Ration card, Voter ID Card, Aadhaar, PAN)
• Details of whether the applicant is a beneficiary of SC / ST / Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) / Land Reform (LR)
• Specimen Signature / Thumb impression

Key Benefits of MGNREGA

The scheme aims to reduce poverty and focuses on economic and rural development in India. Some of the key benefits of MGNREGA are:

• It provides guaranteed employment within 15 days from the date of registration.
• Registered individuals will get employment within the block of their residence. It is also possible that they might get employed within a 5 km radius of their residence.
• If the person lives more than 5 km away from the worksite, they will be compensated with a travel and subsistence allowance. It will be equal to 10% of the minimum wage. 
• Men and women are paid equally under this scheme. 
• The payment will be made within a week or a maximum of 15 days. 
• At every work site, drinking water, shade, and first aid are provided. 

State wise Guidelines for MGNREGA

Each Indian state has certain guidelines for implementing the scheme while following the core rules set by the central government.

• For example, Tamil Nadu has added works like nursery maintenance and tree-planting to suit regional priorities. 
• Haryana offers one of the highest MGNREGA wage rates due to its cost-of-living index.
• States with large tribal populations, such as Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, often prioritise water conservation and land development activities to support rural livelihoods.

These variations show how MGNREGA remains flexible, allowing different states to design works and administrative processes that best serve their local communities while maintaining national standards.

Salient Features of MGNREGA 

Given below are some of the salient features of the MGNREGA scheme:

• It helps in identifying suitable works for eligible individuals. 
• Focuses on awareness and mobilisation of disabled persons. It provides special provisions for them. 
• Individuals get to know about various tools and equipment at the worksite. 
• It enables a person with disabilities to work. 
• A unique job card with a distinct colour is issued.