MGNREGA 2026 no longer exists as a running scheme. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 was repealed on 1 July 2026 and replaced by the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which guarantees 125 days of work instead of 100. The daily wage is now at least Rs 300 in every state. Job cards with completed e-KYC stay valid. Last updated: 23.08.2026.
Is MGNREGA still running in 2026
The short answer is no, and it is worth stating plainly because a great deal of material online still describes MGNREGA as the current scheme. Nothing about the repeal cancels work already done or wages already earned.
| MGNREGA 2026 status | Position as on 23.08.2026 |
|---|---|
| MGNREGA status | MGNREGA was repealed from 1 July 2026. |
| New law | The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 now applies in all rural areas. |
| 100 days guarantee | It is replaced by a 125-day guarantee. |
| Old wage dues | Wages for completed work are still payable. |
| nrega.nic.in | The site now redirects to the Rural Development domain. |
What replaced MGNREGA and from which date
The replacement was done through two separate Gazette notifications, and the dates on them are what settle any dispute about when the change took effect.
| VB-G RAM G transition | Official record |
|---|---|
| New scheme name | Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), VB-G RAM G. |
| MGNREGA repeal date | 1 July 2026. |
| Commencement notification | S.O. 2382(E) dated 11 May 2026. |
| New wage notification | S.O. 3518(E) dated 30 June 2026 replaced S.O. 463(E) of 2013. |
| State rollout | It started in every state and UT on the same date. |
| Ministry | Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development. |
MGNREGA wage rate 2026 and what actually changed
Wage figures published for MGNREGA before July 2026, including the roughly Rs 267 national average that circulated widely, are historical. They no longer describe what a worker is paid today.
| NREGA daily wage 2026 | Official figure |
|---|---|
| Old average wage | Rs 298.8 a day under MGNREGA. |
| New average wage | Rs 327.4 a day under VB-G RAM G. |
| Old lowest wage | Rs 241 a day. |
| New minimum wage | Rs 300 a day, the floor no state may go below. |
| States raised to floor | 21 states and units were raised to Rs 300. |
| Average increase | More than 10 per cent, about Rs 28.6 a day. |
| Largest increase | Close to 24.5 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. |
| Highest daily wage | Rs 450 in three Sikkim panchayats, then Rs 409 in Haryana. |
Daily wage in the most searched states
The large states are listed here. The full 37-row schedule for every state and union territory is on the VB-G RAM G page linked at the end.
| Large state | Daily wage from 01.07.2026 |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Bihar | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Madhya Pradesh | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Rajasthan | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| West Bengal | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Jharkhand | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Chhattisgarh | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Assam | Rs 300 per day, raised to the new floor |
| Maharashtra | Rs 317 per day |
| Andhra Pradesh | Rs 312 per day |
| Karnataka | Rs 382 per day |
| Haryana | Rs 409 per day, the highest state rate |
Important Links
| Document to open | Official destination |
|---|---|
| Full VB-G RAM G scheme details | Read the VB-G RAM G 2026 page |
| Old MGNREGA records archive | Open the legacy NREGA site |
| VB-G RAM G official portal | Open the current official portal |
| Wage rate notification 2026-27 PDF | Download the Gazette wage schedule |
| Commencement and repeal notification | Download S.O. 2382(E) |
| VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 PDF | Download the Act |
| Official FAQ on the transition | Download the Ministry FAQ |
| MIS reports and state reports | Open the MIS report section |
| Act text on India Code | Open the India Code entry |
| Ministry of Rural Development | Open the department site |
| Report a missing wage payment | Open the public grievance portal |
| PMVBRY, up to Rs 15,000 for employees plus an employer incentive | Open the apply guide |
Status of an old job card
This is the question that causes the most anxiety after a repeal, and the official position is reassuring but carries one condition worth checking.
| NREGA job card 2026 | Official answer |
|---|---|
| Old job card | It stays valid until a new card is issued, if e-KYC is done. |
| New card name | It is called the Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card. |
| e-KYC not done | Work cannot be refused for that, e-KYC can be done at the worksite. |
| Apply for new card | Not needed if you hold a valid card, others apply at the Gram Panchayat. |
| New card fee | Registration and the card are free. |
| Household seniority | Households carry over without reapplying. |
Ongoing work and pending payments
Work that was already sanctioned did not stop on 1 July. The Act provides for it to be carried across rather than abandoned.
| NREGA pending payment | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Ongoing works | Works running on 1 July 2026 may continue. |
| Incomplete works | They are migrated and prioritised for completion. |
| Too few work days | New works from the Schedule I shelf may be opened. |
| Pending wages | They are paid by DBT to the worker’s own account. |
| Late payment | 0.05 per cent of unpaid wages per day after the sixteenth day. |
Checking old records and payments
The legacy data was not deleted. It moved, along with the rest of the Ministry’s systems, to the Department of Rural Development domain.
- Open the legacy NREGA site listed in the Important Links table above for historical muster rolls, job card data and payment records.
- For anything after 1 July 2026, use the VB-G RAM G portal instead, because new muster rolls and payments are recorded there.
- Use the MIS report section to reach state, district, block and Gram Panchayat level reports.
- Check the bank or post office account linked to the job card, since all wages are paid by Direct Benefit Transfer and never in cash.
- If a payment is missing or delayed, raise it with the Programme Officer at block level first, as the Act makes that office accountable for timely payment.
- If it is still unresolved, file a complaint through the public grievance portal linked below.
MGNREGA vs VB-G RAM G for a worker
Stripped of the policy language, only a handful of things changed in a way a worker will actually notice.
| What changed for workers | Before and after |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed work days | They rose from 100 to 125 days a year. |
| Minimum daily wage | A Rs 300 floor now applies in every state. |
| Card name | The Job Card becomes the Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card. |
| Attendance | Marked by face authentication, with a network-failure exception. |
| Farming season break | States may pause work for up to 60 days. |
| Types of work | Water security, rural and livelihood infrastructure, extreme weather works. |
What stayed the same after the repeal
Much of the machinery a worker deals with was deliberately left untouched, which is why the switch did not require households to do anything.
| What stays the same | How it works now |
|---|---|
| Work demand | Still registered at the Gram Panchayat, orally, in writing or digitally. |
| Form 6 | Still used for a written work application. |
| 15 day rule | Work must still come within 15 days of applying. |
| Unemployment allowance | The state still pays it if work is late. |
| 5 km rule | Work within 5 km, or 10 per cent extra wage beyond. |
| Worksite facilities | Water, shade and a first aid box stay compulsory. |
Wrong claims still circulating
Because the change happened partway through the financial year, a lot of pages, videos and forwarded messages still carry the pre-July position. These are the errors that come up most often, set against what the notifications actually say. Where a figure below is described as historical, it was accurate at some earlier point and simply has not been updated since the repeal.
| MGNREGA claim | What the notifications say |
|---|---|
| 100 days of work | Outdated, the guarantee is 125 days a year from 1 July 2026. |
| Rs 267 daily wage | Outdated, the average is Rs 327.4 with a Rs 300 floor. |
| Job cards cancelled | False, e-KYC cards stay valid until new cards come. |
| Pay to re-register | False, registration at the Gram Panchayat is free. |
| Job recruitment | False, there are no posts, exam or interview. |
| Only some states | False, it started in every state and UT together. |
| Apply on any website | False, demand work at the Gram Panchayat or official platforms. |
Tracks central and state government recruitment notifications, admit cards, results and cut-offs for Global Drishti, verified directly against official recruitment portals and notification PDFs. Trusted by students and job aspirants nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MGNREGA still running in 2026?
No. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 stood repealed with effect from 1 July 2026. The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 applies in its place across all rural areas.
What replaced MGNREGA?
The Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), commonly written as VB-G RAM G. It was passed by Parliament in December 2025 and commenced on 1 July 2026.
What is the MGNREGA wage rate in 2026?
MGNREGA wage rates no longer apply. From 1 July 2026 the notified rates under VB-G RAM G apply, with no state below Rs 300 a day. The national average rose from Rs 298.8 to Rs 327.4.
Is the Rs 267 daily wage figure still correct?
No. Figures around Rs 267 described an older MGNREGA national average and are historical. The notified national average from 1 July 2026 is Rs 327.4 a day, with a floor of Rs 300.
What is the NREGA wage per day in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar now?
Both are Rs 300 a day from 1 July 2026. They were among the 21 states and administrative units raised to the new interim base wage.
Does my MGNREGA job card still work?
Yes, where e-KYC has been completed. It stays valid until a Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Card is issued. Work cannot be refused only because e-KYC is pending, and it can be completed at the worksite.
Do I have to apply again after the repeal?
No, not if the household already holds a valid job card. Households without one apply at the Gram Panchayat free of charge.
What happens to MGNREGA work that was already going on?
Works ongoing on 1 July 2026 may continue under the new Act. They are migrated and prioritised for completion so that public assets are not left unfinished.
Will pending MGNREGA wages still be paid?
Yes. Dues for completed work remain payable by Direct Benefit Transfer into the worker's own account, with delay compensation at 0.05 per cent of unpaid wages per day beyond the sixteenth day after muster roll closure.
How many days of work are guaranteed now?
125 days per rural household per financial year, up from 100 days under MGNREGA.
Where can I see old MGNREGA records now?
The legacy NREGA site moved to the Department of Rural Development domain and still carries historical job card, muster roll and payment data. Records from 1 July 2026 onwards are on the VB-G RAM G portal.
Does nrega.nic.in still work?
That address now serves a redirect notice pointing to the Department of Rural Development domain. The current scheme portal is the VB-G RAM G site.