Lok Sabha Question No. 1488 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Pending Payments under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora, Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1488

## ANSWERED ON 29/07/2025

## PENDING PAYMENTS UNDER MGNREGS

## 1488. Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal: Shri KuldeepIndora:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  total  amount  of  pending  wages  of  workers and  material  payments  in  Rajasthan  under  Mahatma  Gandhi National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS), State and district-wise;
- (b) the reasons for the repeated delay in  MGNREGS  wage payments  and  the  level  at  which  its  accountability  is  fixed, State-wise including Rajasthan;
- (c) whether the Government is making technical and administrative reforms to make wage disbursement timely and transparent;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the number of workers registered and employed under MGNREGS in Rajasthan including Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, State and district-wise;
- (f) the number of workers applied last year and were provided 100 days of employment, State and district-wise;
- (g) whether the Government is considering an increase in MGNREGS wages keeping in view the rising inflation and cost of living; and
- (h) if so, the proposed increase and the time by which it is likely to be implemented, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  is  a  demand-driven  wage  employment

scheme.  Under  the  scheme,  fund  release  to  the  States/UTs  is  a continuous  process.   Wage  payments  are  directly  credited  by  the Central Government to the account of beneficiaries through  Direct Benefit Transfer protocol. Sanctions for wage payments are issued daily  by  the  Ministry  through  the  Public  Finance  Management System  (PFMS)  based  on  fund  transfer  orders  received  from  the

States after  following  due procedures.

With  regard  to  Material  and  Admin  components,  States/UTs  are required  to  furnish  fund  release  proposals  to  the  Government  of India.  The  Central  Government  releases  funds  periodically  in  two tranches with each tranche consisting of one or more installments, keeping in view the 'agreed to' Labour Budget, demand for works, opening  balance,  pace  of  utilization  of  funds,  pending  liabilities, relevant documents  by  the  States/UTs.  The  Central  government  releases material funds to the State Governments which in turn release the funds  to  its  Districts.  Central  government  does  not  release  funds overall performance and subject to submission of directly to the Districts.

In the current Financial Year 2025-26 (as on 24.07.2025) an amount of Rs. 3,312.60 crore  has been released to the State of Rajasthan for wage, material, and admin components.

As on 24.07.2025, the pending liability for wage payments under the Scheme in the State of Rajasthan is Rs. 561.28 crore. Further, the pending liability for  FY  2024-25  for  the  material  component  is   Rs.

827.87  crore.

(b)to (d): As  per the provisions of the Act, beneficiaries are entitled to receive wage  payments within 15 days of work completion. In order to ensure timely payment, the Government of India  has  issued  a  comprehensive  Standard  Operating  Procedure (SOP) to all States/UTs, which defines fixed timelines for each stage of  the  wage  payment  process-from  muster  roll  uploading  to  FTO approval. The Ministry along with the States/UTs has been making concerted  efforts  for  improving  the  timely  payment  of  wages. States/UTs have been advised to generate pay orders in time.

The Ministry has taken various steps to ensure timely payment of  wages  to  workers  under  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS).  These include:

-  Improvement of National Electronic Fund Management System (Ne-FMS)
-  Intensive  consultation  with  State  Governments  and  other stakeholders for ensuring timely payment of wages, verification of pending and delay compensation claims etc.
-  Formulation of Standard Operating Procedure for monitoring of timely payment and payment of delay compensation.
- Reviewing the status of timely payment and payment of delay compensation with the States/ UTs during periodic meetings, Performance  Review  Committee  meetings,  Mid-term  Reviews
-  etc.

Further,  continued  efforts  have  been  undertaken  by  the  Ministry through  various  technological  interventions  for  ensuring  timely payments of wages. Some of the key interventions include:

-  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT):  Wages  are  transferred  directly from the central account to workers' bank accounts, minimizing the role of intermediaries and reducing fund misappropriation. This has proven to be effective in enhancing transparency  and  preventing  leakages.  Almost  100%  of  the funds  are  managed  electronically  with  the  wage  payment made entirely through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) protocol.
- Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS): APBS conversion is a major reform process where benefits are credited directly into the bank accounts based on the Aadhaar of the workers under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, preferably Aadhaar Based Payments, cutting  several  layers  in  the  delivery  process.  APBS  helps  in better  targeting,  increasing  the  efficiency  of  the  system  and reducing the delays in payments, ensuring greater inclusion by curbing  leakages  thereby  promoting  greater  accountability
-  and transparency.
-  National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS): Real-time attendance  capture  through  geo-tagged  photographs  at  the worksite ensures accurate and timely recording of attendance, which helps in  timely payment of wages.

As per the provisions mentioned in Schedule-II of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), wage seekers shall be entitled to receive payment of  compensation for  the  delay,  at  the  rate  of  0.05%  of  the  unpaid wages  per  day  of  delay  beyond  the  sixteenth  day  of  closure  of muster  roll. Delay  compensation   rules  are   notified  by  the  State Government concerned. The amount due for compensation is duly verified and approved, and then paid by the State Government.

(e)& (f): District-wise  details  of  number  of  registered  workers, number  of  workers  who  demanded  employment  and  number  of workers who availed employment in Rajasthan State under Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  during  the  last  financial  year  2024-25  is given at Annexure-I.

District-wise  number  of  households  who  completed  100  days of  employment in Rajasthan under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25 is given at Annexure-II.

(g)& (h): As per Section 6  (1)  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural Employment  Guarantee  Act  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA),  2005,  the Central  Government may by notification specify the wage rate for unskilled  work  for  its  beneficiaries.  Accordingly,  the  Ministry  of Rural Development notifies Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage rate for every  financial  year  for  States/UTs.  To  compensate  the  Mahatma Gandhi  NREGA  workers  against  inflation,  the  Ministry  of  Rural Development revises the wage rate every year based on change in Consumer  Price  Index  for  Agricultural  Labour(CPI-AL).  The  wage rate is made applicable from 1st April of each financial year.

Using the present methodology of wage rate calculation, the central government has notified the wage rate and it has increased by around 5% (average) over the last year and around 29% (average) in  the  previous  5  years.  However,  State  Governments  can  provide wages  over  and  above  the  wage  rate  notified  by  the  Central

Government from their own sources.

*****

Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply to parts (e)&(f) of LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 1488 dated 29.07.2025.

| District-wise Details of number of registered workers, number of workers who demanded employment and number of workers who availed employment in Rajasthan State under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25. (Figure in lakh)   | District-wise Details of number of registered workers, number of workers who demanded employment and number of workers who availed employment in Rajasthan State under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25. (Figure in lakh)   | District-wise Details of number of registered workers, number of workers who demanded employment and number of workers who availed employment in Rajasthan State under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25. (Figure in lakh)   | District-wise Details of number of registered workers, number of workers who demanded employment and number of workers who availed employment in Rajasthan State under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25. (Figure in lakh)   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SI. No.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | District of Rajasthan Number                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | of registered workers Number of workers who demanded employment                                                                                                                                                                                        | Number of workers who availed employment                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 1AJMER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 8.81                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 4.04                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.81                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 2ALWAR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 5.75                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.27                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 3BANSWARA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 9.94                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 5.67                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 5.31                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 4BARAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 6.45                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.98                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 5BARMER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 13.46                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 7.20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 6.90                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 6BHARATPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 7.98                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.39                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.21                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 7BHILWARA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 9.67                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 4.95                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 4.63                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 8BIKANER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 7.94                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.33                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.89                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 9BUNDI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 5.75                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.61                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.45                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 10CHITTORGARH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 5.47                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.69                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.48                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 11CHURU                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 7.32                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.62                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.45                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 12DAUSA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 3.94                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.85                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.65                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 13DHOLPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 4.09                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.60                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.51                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 14DUNGARPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 8.23                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 4.73                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 4.54                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 15HANUMANGARH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 6.06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.22                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.07                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 16JAIPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 7.93                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.42                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.23                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 17JAISALMER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 3.14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.90                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.82                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 18JALORE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 6.69                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.67                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.55                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 19JHALAWAR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 6.80                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.64                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.40                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 20JHUNJHUNU                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 3.65                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.50                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.42                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 21JODHPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 12.46                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 3.92                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.37                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 22KARAULI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 4.89                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.97                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 23KOTA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3.22                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.35                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 24NAGAUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 13.93                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 5.45                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 5.17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 25PALI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 8.81                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.26                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.03                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 26PRATAPGARH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 4.40                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.04                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 2.90                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 27RAJSAMAND                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 4.59                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.85                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.70                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 28 SAWAI MADHOPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 5.83                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.95                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.77                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 29SIKAR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 5.34                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.85                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0.74                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 30SIROHI 31SRI GANGANAGAR                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 4.01                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.35 6.11 2.79                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 1.22 2.56                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 32TONK                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 6.72                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.57                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 1.35                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 33UDAIPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 12.38                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4.11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 3.85                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Total                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 231.77                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 84.08                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 77.23                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

Annexure-II Annexure referred to in reply to parts (e)&(f) of LokSabhaUnstarred

## Question No. 1488 dated 29.07.2025.

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| District-wise number of households who completed100 days of employment in Rajasthan under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25.   | District-wise number of households who completed100 days of employment in Rajasthan under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25.   | District-wise number of households who completed100 days of employment in Rajasthan under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last financial year 2024-25.   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SI.No. District                                                                                                                                          | who completed 100                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 1AJMER                                                                                                                                                   | 21305                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 2ALWAR                                                                                                                                                   | 2179                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 3BANSWARA                                                                                                                                                | 39048                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 4BARAN                                                                                                                                                   | 8052                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 5BARMER                                                                                                                                                  | 52671                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 6BHARATPUR                                                                                                                                               | 2711                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 7BHILWARA                                                                                                                                                | 9681                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 8BIKANER                                                                                                                                                 | 14463                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 9BUNDI                                                                                                                                                   | 3754                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 10CHITTORGARH                                                                                                                                            | 7847                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 11CHURU                                                                                                                                                  | 10703                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 12DAUSA                                                                                                                                                  | 402                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 13DHOLPUR                                                                                                                                                | 403                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 14DUNGARPUR                                                                                                                                              | 62306                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 15HANUMANGARH                                                                                                                                            | 30628                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 16JAIPUR                                                                                                                                                 | 7052                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 17JAISALMER                                                                                                                                              | 21578                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 18JALORE                                                                                                                                                 | 12947                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 19JHALAWAR                                                                                                                                               | 1769                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 20JHUNJHUNU                                                                                                                                              | 3068                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 21JODHPUR                                                                                                                                                | 16018                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 22KARAULI                                                                                                                                                | 108                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 23KOTA                                                                                                                                                   | 3943                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 24NAGAUR                                                                                                                                                 | 26086                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 25PALI                                                                                                                                                   | 15913                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 26PRATAPGARH                                                                                                                                             | 32447                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 27RAJSAMAND                                                                                                                                              | 24830                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 28SAWAI MADHOPUR                                                                                                                                         | 465                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 29SIKAR                                                                                                                                                  | 5782                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 30SIROHI                                                                                                                                                 | 19468                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 31SRI GANGANAGAR                                                                                                                                         | 16821                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 32TONK                                                                                                                                                   | 2043                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                          |
| 33UDAIPUR                                                                                                                                                | 34725                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                          |
| Total                                                                                                                                                    | 5,11,216                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                          |

(As per NREGASoft)

*****