## Policy Summary: MGNREGA Budget Allocation (2020-2026)
This document summarizes the budgetary allocations and fund releases for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) over the past five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25) and provides information regarding the current financial year (2025-26).
Key data points include:
* **Funding Trends:** The budget allocation for MGNREGS is determined based on anticipated demand for employment. The Ministry of Rural Development regularly assesses fund requirements and requests additional funds from the Ministry of Finance as needed.
* **Budget Estimates vs. Actual Spending:** In all the last five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25), the revised estimates and the funds released exceeded the budget estimates.
* **FY 2020-21:** Budget Estimate: ₹61,500 crore; Revised Estimate: ₹111,500 crore; Funds Released: ₹111,170.86 crore.
* **FY 2021-22:** Budget Estimate: ₹73,000 crore; Revised Estimate: ₹98,000 crore; Funds Released: ₹98,467.85 crore.
* **FY 2022-23:** Budget Estimate: ₹73,000 crore; Revised Estimate: ₹89,400 crore; Funds Released: ₹90,810.99 crore.
* **FY 2023-24:** Budget Estimate: ₹60,000 crore; Revised Estimate: ₹86,000 crore; Funds Released: ₹89,268.30 crore.
* **FY 2024-25:** Budget Estimate: ₹86,000 crore; Revised Estimate: ₹86,000 crore; Funds Released: ₹85,838.76 crore.
* **FY 2024-25 Allocation:** The budget allocation of ₹86,000 crore for FY 2024-25 was the highest ever allocation for the scheme at the Budget Estimate stage since its inception.
* **FY 2025-26 Allocation:** The Government has retained the allocation at ₹86,000 crore for FY 2025-26. As of July 22, 2025, 99.79% of eligible rural households that demanded employment have been offered it.
The Government of India is committed to strengthening and supporting MGNREGS to ensure livelihood security for rural households through sustainable employment opportunities.
This information was provided by Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Release ID: 2148475.
Key Entities Referenced
Financial Year 202021: Financial year from April 2020 to March 2021
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs.
MGNREGA: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Flagship employment guarantee scheme in India.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme: A demand-driven wage employment scheme providing livelihood security to rural households.
Ministry of Finance: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's finances.
Financial Year 202122: Financial year from April 2021 to March 2022
Financial Year 202223: Financial year from April 2022 to March 2023
Financial Year 202324: Financial year from April 2023 to March 2024
Ministry of Rural Development
BUDGET ALLOCATION UNDER MGNREGA
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 5:53PM by PIB Delhi
The details of funds allocation at Budget Estimate stage, Revised Estimate stage and fund released under
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) in the last five
years are given below:
(Rs. in crore)
Budget Estimate Revised Estimate Fund released
SI. No. Financial Year
1 2020-21 61500.00 111500.00 1,11,170.86
2 2021-22 73000.00 98000.00 98,467.85
3 2022-23 73000.00 89400.00 90,810.99
4 2023-24 60000.00 86000.00 89,268.30
5 2024-25 86000.00 86000.00 85,838.76
Since Mahatma Gandhi NREGS is a demand driven wage employment Scheme budgetary outlay is
determined based on the anticipated demand for employment in a particular financial year. The Ministry
undertakes regular assessments of fund requirements based on demand and seeks additional funds under
Mahatma Gandhi NREGS from the Ministry of Finance as and when required for meeting the demand for
work on the ground. Here, it is submitted that in the FY 2025-26 (as on 22.072025), 99.79% of the eligible
rural households have been offered employment against their demand.
Here, it is also to be noted that for the financial year 2024-25, budget allocation of ₹86,000 crore has been
made, which was the highest ever allocation for scheme at the Budget Estimate (BE) stage since inception. In
the financial year 2025-26, the Government has retained this allocation at ₹86,000 crore, ensuring continued
support for the scheme.
Government of India is committed to strengthening and supporting Mahatma Gandhi NREGS to ensure
livelihood security for rural households through sustainable employment opportunities.
This information was given by Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha today.
******
RC/ KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2148475)