Supreme Court lauds scrapped MGNREGA as a ‘good, effective scheme’
The scheme was applauded by a three-judge Bench while hearing a petition on delayed wages under the defunct scheme; petition seeks to elevate the right to work as a fundamental right
On August 21, 2026, the Supreme Court hailed the repealed Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as a "salutary scheme" that delivered effective employment in rural areas. The court, however, noted that the successor program, the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G Act), had failed to generate the same level of employment, reporting a 50% drop despite guaranteeing 125 workdays per household annually, up from 100.
Civil rights groups claim the shift from a demand-driven, rights-based framework to a centrally controlled model is to blame. The new law has also increased the funding burden on states three-fold, from a 90:10 ratio to 60:40. Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that MGNREGA was neither a freebie nor exploitation, and urged the government to pay delayed wages and provide compensation.
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