UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union govt. wants to dilute MGNREGA, says Jean Dreze

Q1. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), whose alleged dilution by the VB-G RAM G Bill was flagged by Jean Dreze in January 2026, was enacted in which one of the following years?

  • A. 2004
  • B. 2005
  • C. 2006
  • D. 2008

Q2. With reference to the differences between MGNREGA, 2005 and the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike MGNREGA which is a demand-driven guarantee, the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 introduces a mandatory annual blackout period of sixty days during which employment need not be provided. 2. Both MGNREGA and the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 statutorily guarantee every rural household at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year. 3. The Union Budget for 2025-26 retained the MGNREGA allocation at Rs 86,000 crore, the same level as the Budget Estimate of 2024-25. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike MGNREGA which is a demand-driven guarantee, the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 introduces a mandatory annual blackout period of sixty days during which employment need not be provided.
  2. Both MGNREGA and the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 statutorily guarantee every rural household at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year.
  3. The Union Budget for 2025-26 retained the MGNREGA allocation at Rs 86,000 crore, the same level as the Budget Estimate of 2024-25.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following is the largest demand-driven rural wage employment programme of the Government of India by budgetary outlay, whose dilution by a successor legislation was alleged by Jean Dreze in 2026?

  • A. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
  • B. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G)
  • C. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
  • D. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Q4. MGNREGA, allegedly being replaced by the Viksit Bharat–G RAM G Act, 2025, is implemented at the Union level by which one of the following Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
  • B. Ministry of Rural Development
  • C. Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare

Q5. In the context of MGNREGA, what does the statutorily defined term 'unemployment allowance' precisely refer to?

  • A. A monthly stipend paid by the State Employment Exchange to registered unemployed rural youth between 18 and 35 years of age.
  • B. A compensatory payment, payable by the State Government, to a registered household when employment is not provided within fifteen days of receipt of an application for work under the Act.
  • C. A one-time bonus paid by the Centre to MGNREGA workers who complete the full quota of 100 days of work in a financial year.
  • D. A wage-parity supplement paid to women workers to bridge any gap between the prescribed MGNREGA wage rate and the State minimum agricultural wage.
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