The government on March 28, 2024, notified the new wages under its flagship NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme for the financial year 2024-25 (FY25). The new wages came into effect from 1 April 2024 and will be valid till 31 March 2024.
See also: How to download NREGA job card application form PDF?
State-wise NREGA wage list 2024
With effect from April 1, 2024
| Name of state/Union territory | Wage rate per day for FY25 |
| Andhra Pradesh | Rs 300 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Rs 234 |
| Assam | Rs 249 |
| Bihar | Rs 245 |
| Chhattisgarh | Rs 244 |
| Goa | Rs 356 |
| Gujarat | Rs 280 |
| Haryana | Rs 374 |
| Himachal Pradesh | Non-scheduled areas – Rs 236
Scheduled areas – Rs 295 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Rs 259 |
| Ladakh | Rs 259 |
| Jharkhand | Rs 245 |
| Karnataka | Rs 349 |
| Kerala | Rs 346 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Rs 243 |
| Maharashtra | Rs 297 |
| Manipur | Rs 272 |
| Meghalaya | Rs 254 |
| Mizoram | Rs 266 |
| Nagaland | Rs 234 |
| Odisha | Rs 254 |
| Punjab | Rs 322 |
| Rajasthan | Rs 266 |
| Sikkim
Sikkim(Three Gram Panchayats named Gnathang, Lachung and Lachen |
Rs 249
Rs 374 |
| Tamil Nadu | Rs 319 |
| Telangana | Rs 300 |
| Tripura | Rs 242 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Rs 237 |
| Uttarakhand | Rs 237 |
| West Bengal | Rs 250 |
| Andaman and Nicobar | Andaman District – Rs 329
Nicobar District – Rs 347 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Rs 324 |
| Lakshadweep | Rs 315 |
| Puducherry | Rs 319 |
How to check NREGA payment in 2024?
Step 1: Click here to directly reach the MGNERGA job card official website. Now, click on the Generate Reports option.
Step 2: Select your state from a list that contains the names of all the states in India.
Step 3: On the next page select the financial year, district, block and panchayat and click on ‘Proceed’.
Step 4: On the next page, select the ‘Job Card/Employment Register’ option under the R1 Job Card/ Registration tab.
Step 5: The list of NREGA workers and NREGA job cards will appear on the screen. Click on the MGNREGA job card number to view.
Step 6: The MGNREGA job card will appear on the screen. You can also find all the work details on this page.
Step 7: Now, click on the work for which you want to check the payment details.
Step 8: A fresh page will open. Click on the number mentioned against the option Muster Rolls Used.
Step 7: Now, click on the work for which you want to check the payment details.
Step 8: All the payment details will now be visible on your screen, along with date of payment, name of the bank, etc.
How NREGA payment is made?
All payments to the NREGA beneficiaries are made through the Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS).
ABPS is “a unique payment system which uses Aadhaar number as a central key for electronically channelising government subsidies and benefits in the Aadhaar-Enabled Bank Accounts (AEBA) of the beneficiaries”.
To opt for the ABPS, a NREGA job Card holder must link his bank account with Aadhaar. The same account must also be connected to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) mapper. The NPCI mapper is a repository of Aadhaar numbers maintained by the APBS and used for the purpose of routing the APB transactions to the destination banks. The NPCI mapper contains Aadhaar number along with IIN of the bank to which the customer has seeded their Aadhaar number. Banks need to upload Aadhaar number in the NPCI mapper in a specified file format through the NACH portal.
Challenges faced by the MGNREGA program
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), passed in 2005, aims to provide guaranteed unskilled work for rural households. Despite enrolling 15.51 crore active workers, several significant challenges hinder its effectiveness as a poverty alleviation tool.
Delay and insufficiency in fund dispersal
- Mandated Timeline: Wages are to be disbursed within 15 days.
- Current Scenario: Many states need to meet this requirement.
- Consequences:
- Loss of interest among workers due to delayed payments.
- The scheme risks becoming supply-based rather than demand-driven.
Key Statistics:
| Parameter | Status |
| Percentage of states meeting wage timeline | Below 50% (exact figure varies by state) |
| The average delay in payment | Varies; significant evidence of delays |
Caste-based segregation
Disparities in Payment Timeliness:
- Scheduled Caste (SC): 46% paid within 7 days
- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 37% paid within 7 days
- Non-SC/ST Workers: Only 26% paid within 7 days
Impact:
- Regions Affected: Poorer states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.
- Outcome: Reinforcement of socio-economic inequalities.
Ineffective role of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs)
Challenges Faced:
- Limited autonomy hinders effective implementation.
- Bureaucratic constraints lead to inefficiencies.
Consequences:
- Inability to address local needs.
- Reduced community engagement in project management.
Large number of incomplete works
Current Status:
- Delay in project completions.
- Irregular inspections and poor-quality work.
Implications:
- Resource Wastage: Ineffective asset creation.
- Community Impact: Limited benefits for rural households.
Fabrication of job cards
Key Issues:
- Existence of fake job cards.
- Inclusion of fictitious names.
- Missing or delayed entries.
Consequences:
- Lack of accountability and transparency.
- Misallocation of resources, depriving genuine workers of benefits.
While MGNREGA is a crucial initiative for rural employment, its challenges—funding delays, caste-based disparities, ineffective governance, incomplete projects, and job card issues—must be addressed to enhance its effectiveness. The committee led by Amarjeet Sinha presents an opportunity for reform, but successful implementation of recommendations will be essential for achieving the program’s goals in poverty alleviation and rural development.
Inadequate Wage Rates
Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj highlighted the need for prompt increases in wage rates under MGNREGA:
Current Wage Disparities:
- Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh: ₹221
- Arunachal Pradesh: ₹224
- Bihar and Jharkhand: ₹228
- Sikkim: ₹354 in select gram panchayats
- Nicobar: ₹328
- Andaman: ₹311
Observations:
- The committee found the wages inadequate compared to the rising cost of living since 2008.
- Agricultural and masonry workers earn more than the guaranteed MGNREGA wage, suggesting wage insufficiency may contribute to a labor shortage in rural employment.
NREGA job card latest Update
Daily wages paid under MGNREGA not adequate: Parliamentary panel – (section to be removed) Used this information organically above in the article
February 8, 2024: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has urged for a prompt increases in wage rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It has advised the government to investigate the possibility of revising the base year and base rate of MGNREGA wages.
“The committee finds the range of wages vary from as little as Rs 221 in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Rs 224 in Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 228 in Bihar and Jharkhand to Rs 354 in the three gram panchayats of Sikkim (Gnathang, Lachung and Lachen), Rs 328 in Nicobar and Rs 311 in Andaman,” it said.
“Observing the quantum of wages since 2008, the committee finds the wages inadequate and not in consonance with the rising cost of living. At this juncture, the agricultural labourers and other labourers involved in masonry/ miscellaneous works command a daily wage more than the wage guaranteed under MGNREGA,” it said. “Perhaps, one of the reasons for the dearth of workers… may be the insufficiency of the wage rates under MGNREGA,” the panel said.
Govt makes ABPS mandatory for NREGA payments from Sept 1: Reports – To be removed (Info already available above)
August 25, 2023: The government has made Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) mandatory pay wages to workers enrolled under the NREGA, says media reports, citing highly placed sources. The new rule comes into effect from September 1, 2023. This leaves states with only a few days to complete the process of putting the ABPS in place. Data available on the NREGA website show 19.4% (2.77 crore) active NREGA workers are yet to be linked to the ABPS.
FAQs
According to Section 3(3) of the MGNREGA, workers are entitled to payment on a weekly basis. This payment must not be delayed beyond a fortnight from the day on which work was done.
In case of a delay in payment of wages, a NREGA worker has the right to receive payment of compensation for the delay at the rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day beyond the 16th day of closure of muster roll.
If an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days of receipt of his application seeking employment, he must be provided an unemployment allowance.
As per Section 7(3) of the MGNREGA, state government is liable to pay unemployment allowance to the household concerned.
NREGA wages are set by the Central government and varies from state to state. The wage rate is subject to periodic revision. Wages are supposed to be paid according to the quantity and quality of work performed, usually measured in standard 'person days' of work.
Payments are made directly to the bank or post office accounts of the workers to ensure transparency and reduce the risk of fraud.
Beneficiaries should first check with their local NREGA functionaries at the village or panchayat level. If the issue is not resolved, they can escalate it to higher officials like the block development officer or the district magistrate. Complaints can also be lodged through the NREGA portal or helpline.
You can check your payment status online through the official NREGA website by entering your job card number or other relevant details.
A worker needs to have a valid job card, a bank or post office account linked with Aadhar and NREGA Job Card number, and entries of work done in the official records.
The worker has the right to receive payment of compensation for the delay at the rate of 0.05% of the unpaid wages per day beyond the 16 days of closure of muster roll.
Individual pay slips or wage slips should have the details of wage payments like work ID, wage rate, number of days worked, amount earned by the worker during the week, number of mandays completed per HH and number of man-days of employment due to the households concerned etc.
The choice among different service providers (commercial/scheduled banks/ RRBs/post offices/ mobile banks) is left to the decision of the wage seekers as per their convenience.
The MGNREGA Job Card duly signed by the officer concerned is an officially valid document for opening a bank account under the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
Gram panchayats are responsible for issuing NREGA job cards.
A job seeker has to apply in writing for getting employment under the law.
No, a person can’t apply for a job card in villages where they are not a local domicile.
A person who is not registered is not entitled to work and get payment. If a Job card is lent to another person, he will work and get paid in your name, even though the job card holder did not work, which is illegal. What is the frequency of NREGA wage payment?
What if NREGA payment is delayed?
What is unemployment allowance under the NREGA?
Who is responsible for the payment of the unemployment allowance?
How are NREGA wages calculated?
What are the modes of NREGA payment?
What can I do if I don’t receive my payment on time?
How can I check my NREGA payment status?
What documents are needed for NREGA payment processing?
What if the NREGA payment is delayed?
What details need to be provided on the NREGA pay slip?
Who decides regarding opening of account in post office/bank?
Is there any authentic document required to open the NREGA wage seeker account?
Who is responsible for issuing NREGA job cards?
Can I apply online to get work under NREGA?
Can a person apply for a job card in villages where they are not a local domicile?
What will happen if a Job Card is lent to others who do not have a Job Card?
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