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

SN	State/UT	2024-25 Wage (Rs)	2025-26 Wage (Rs)	Increase (Rs)	Increase (%)
1	Andhra Pradesh	300	307	7	2.33
2	Arunachal Pradesh	234	241	7	2.99
3	Assam	249	256	7	2.81
4	Bihar	245	255	10	4.08
5	Chhattisgarh	243	261	18	7.41
6	Goa	356	378	22	6.18
7	Gujarat	280	288	8	2.86
8	Haryana	374	400	26	6.95
9	Himachal Pradesh (Non-Scheduled Areas)	236	247	11	4.66
9	Himachal Pradesh (Scheduled Areas)	295	309	14	4.75
10	Jammu & Kashmir	259	272	13	5.02
11	Ladakh	259	272	13	5.02
12	Jharkhand	245	255	10	4.08
13	Karnataka	349	370	21	6.02
14	Kerala	346	369	23	6.65
15	Madhya Pradesh	243	261	18	7.41
16	Maharashtra	297	312	15	5.05
17	Manipur	272	284	12	4.41
18	Meghalaya	254	272	18	7.09
19	Mizoram	266	281	15	5.64
20	Nagaland	234	241	7	2.99
21	Odisha	254	273	19	7.48
22	Punjab	322	346	24	7.45
23	Rajasthan	266	281	15	5.64
24	Sikkim	249	259	10	4.02
24	Sikkim (Gnathang, Lachung, Lachen)	374	389	15	4.01
25	Tamil Nadu	319	336	17	5.33
26	Telangana	300	307	7	2.33
27	Tripura	242	256	14	5.79
28	Uttar Pradesh	237	252	15	6.33
29	Uttarakhand	237	252	15	6.33
30	West Bengal	250	260	10	4.00
31	Andaman & Nicobar (Andaman)	329	342	13	3.95
31	Andaman & Nicobar (Nicobar)	347	361	14	4.03
32	Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu	324	340	16	4.94
33	Lakshadweep	315	336	21	6.67
34	Puducherry	319	336	17	5.33