Lok Sabha Question No. 257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Technology based Interventions under MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Ganesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 257 ANSWERED ON 02/12/2025

## TECHNOLOGY BASED INTERVENTIONS UNDER MGNREGS

## 257. Shri Ganesh Singh:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  technology-based  interventions  have  been implemented for the effective and transparent implementation of  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the manner in which the use of these technology interventions-National Mobile Monitoring Service (NMMS),  Area  Officer Monitoring  App,  GeoMGNREGS,  Yuktdhara  Portal,  SECURE Application, and JALDOOT App--improved worksite monitoring, asset creation and transparency, the details thereof;
- (c) the impact or improvement seen in work execution, monitoring and employment generation as a result of  these technological improvements in the country and specifically in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh; and
- (d) whether  there is any action plan to integrate  advanced technological tools such as Artificial Intelligence (Al), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data analytics into MGNREGS to ensure greater efficiency and transparency?

## ANSWER

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

(a)&(b): Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  is  a  demand  driven  wage employment Scheme. The Scheme is implemented on an end-to-end integrated transaction-based Management Information System (MIS) platform  called  NREGASoft.  Through  this,  all  aspects  relating  to planning,  administrative  and  technical  approval  of  the  scheme, issue  of  job  cards,  acceptance  of  demand,  issue  of  muster  roll, measurement of work, approval of payment and finally payment to

the beneficiary through  a  Direct Benefit  Transfer  (DBT)-Public Financial Management System (PFMS) platform are monitored.

Through  various  technological  interventions,  the  Ministry  of Rural  Development  has  adopted  a  robust  process  for  ensuring transparency  and  accountability in the implementation  of the scheme across the  States/UTs.  A  brief  note  regarding  the  various technological interventions  done  for  monitoring  and  evaluation  for ensuring  the  proper  utilization  of  the  funds  released  under  the scheme is given at the Annexure.

- (c): Various  technology-driven  reforms  under  Mahatma  Gandhi NREGS such as e-Muster roll, Aadhaar-based payments, Geo-tagging of  assets,  real-time  MIS  monitoring,  National  Mobile  Monitoring System(NMMS),  Area  Officer  App,  SECURE,  Yuktdhara  planning portal and Jaldoot App have collectively improved the accuracy of work  execution,  strengthened  transparency,  ensured  timely  wage disbursal  and  enhanced  overall  programme  efficiency  across  rural areas of the country. These interventions have been beneficial for whole  country  including  District  Satna,   Madhya  Pradesh,  where digital attendance, geo-tagged work progress and MIS-based planning  have  resulted  in  better  verification  of  works,  improved monitoring  by  field  functionaries  and  more  timely  employment generation in response to local demand.
- (d): Ministry has initiated multiple action plans to integrate advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), GIS, and data analytics into Mahatma Gandhi NREGS to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency. Key initiatives include:
- (i) AI driven monitoring with eKYC and Face Authentication: Use of AI/ML  tools,  Aadhaar  based  eKYC,  and  Face  Authentication  under NMMS is being strengthened to ensure genuine worker identification to prevent proxy attendance and to improve transparency.
- (ii) GIS based planning and tracking: Expansion of GIS platforms like Yuktdhara  and  GeoMGNREGA  to  enable  scientific  planning,  geo tagging of assets and real time spatial monitoring of works.
- (iii) Data analytics for decision making: Advanced analytics dashboards are being developed to monitor fund flow, work progress,  labour  demand  trends,  and  performance  indicators  at national, state, and district levels.
- (iv) Automation in measurement and verification: Digital tools such as  SECURE  are  being  strengthened  to  automate  measurements, reduce  human  errors,  and  ensure  transparent  linkages  between
- physical and financial progress.

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## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a)&(b) of LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 257 dated 02.12.2025.

- i. Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT):  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT) system  in  wage  payment  has  been  adopted  under  Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS).  The  payment  of  wages  to  the  bank/  post  office accounts  of  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS  workers  is  through National Electronic Fund Management System (NeFMS)/Electronic Fund Management System (eFMS).
- ii. National Mobile Monitoring Service (NMMS): It enables capturing of attendance of workers  at  Mahatma  Gandhi NREGA  worksites  (except  for  individual  beneficiary  works) along  with  geo-tagged  photograph  twice  in  a  day.  This  app aids in increasing citizen oversight of the programme. This is one more step towards transparency and accountability.
3. Area Officer Monitoring Visit Application:  This App facilitates the officials of the State/UT to record their field visit findings online.  The  App  also  allows  the  officials  to  record  time stamped  and  geotagged  photograph  for  all  the  schemes launched by Department of Rural Development. Also, this App helps  in  developing  hassle-free  reporting  of  the  field  visits. This  app  records  the  field  visit  findings  and  views  the  field
- iii. visit outcome report by the senior officials.
5. GIS based plan- Use of Space Technology: GIS based GP level plan  (ridge  to  valley  approach)  preparation  using  Remote Sensing technology in a saturation mode for all the GPs of the
- iv. country.
7. Yuktdhara  :   GIS  based  planning  tool  -  To  simplify  the  GIS based  planning  at  GP  level  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA  ' Yuktdhara' a Geospatial planning portal has been developed in
- v. collaboration with ISRO-NRSC.
- vi. SECURE  -  Software  for  Estimate  Calculation  for  using  Rural Rates for Employment :-Application is being used to  estimate the  cost of works to be undertaken under the scheme.
- vii. GeoNREGA:  the  app  has  been  developed  by  using  Space Technology to track the creation of assets by geotagging it, at 'Before', 'During' and 'After' stages of the asset creation.
- viii. JALDOOT  App:  JALDOOT  app  has  been  developed  to  enable monitoring  of  ground  water  tables  across  the  country.  The Jaldoot  app  enables  Gram  RojgarSahayak  (GRS)  to  measure the  water  level  of  selected  wells  twice  a  year  (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon).

- ix. JANMANREGA App: This app helps in proactive disclosure of information to its citizens in reference to the implementation of  Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS.  Citizen  awareness  is  a  key  to efficient, effective, and transparent execution of the scheme.
- x. Ombudsperson App-An Ombudsperson App has been developed for smooth reporting and categorization of grievances received from  various  sources  viz.  physical,  digital  and  mass  media related to the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, easy tracking and timely passing of awards on each case as per the guidelines and easy uploading of quarterly and annual report on the website.
- xi. Social Audit: As per the mandate of the Act, the Ministry has laid emphasis on the setting up of an institutional structure at the  States/UTs  level  for  facilitating  social  audits  of  all  the Gram  Panchayats  at  least  twice  a  year.  With  the  consistent efforts  by  Ministry,  a  total  of  27  States  and  1  UT  have established  Independent  Social  Audit  Units.  Through  use  of Panchayat  NIRNAY  app  developed  by  Ministry  of  Panchayati Raj, Social Audit has further been strengthened as it increases  community involvement and transparency. Through this  App  schedule, agenda, decisions taken during the social audit gram sabha can be viewed.

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