MGNREGS Wage Hike for 2025-26: Detailed Analysis

The Government of India has notified an increase in wage rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for the financial year 2025-26. The hike ranges from 2.33% to 7.48%, with wages increasing by Rs 7 to Rs 26 per day depending on the state. This marks the first time NREGS wages have reached Rs 400 per day in any state, with Haryana recording the highest increase.

NREGS Wage Hike: Key Highlights

1. Overview of the Wage Increase

• The NREGS wage hike ranges from Rs 7 to Rs 26 per day.
• Haryana has seen the highest absolute increase of Rs 26, taking its wage rate to Rs 400 per day.
• The lowest increase of Rs 7 per day has been recorded in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Telangana.
• The new wage rates will come into effect from April 1, 2025.

2. Wage Determination Under NREGS

The NREGS wage rates are fixed based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL), which reflects inflation in rural areas. This ensures that wages under the scheme keep pace with the cost of living.

3. How NREGS Ensures Employment?

Under the MGNREGA Act, 2005, every rural household with adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work is entitled to at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year. However, in certain conditions, an additional 50 days of work is provided:

• Scheduled Tribe households in forest areas (as per the Forest Rights Act, 2016).
• Areas affected by drought or natural calamities, as notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

4. Performance of NREGS in 2024-25

During the current financial year (2024-25), 5.66 crore households have availed employment under the rural job guarantee scheme till March 19, 2025.

State-wise NREGS Wage Rates for 2025-26