The Ministry of Rural Development, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, has taken significant steps to modernize the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) through the implementation of Aadhaar-based payment systems. This initiative aims to ensure timely, transparent, and direct wage payments to the workers participating in the scheme, which is one of India’s largest social security programs aimed at providing employment to rural households.
Aadhaar-Based Payment Bridge System (APBS)
One of the key advancements introduced under the MGNREGS is the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). The introduction of APBS in January 2024 was a strategic move to address the frequent issues arising from beneficiaries changing their bank accounts and the subsequent challenges of non-updating of account details. These changes often delayed the disbursement of wages. By using Aadhaar-based payment systems, the Ministry has ensured that payments are linked directly to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar number, thus reducing the risk of errors and delays in wage transfers.
As of now, 99.49% of Aadhaar seeding has been completed across the 13.55 crore active workers, and the central government is working to achieve 100% Aadhaar seeding and APBS conversion in NREGASoft. This development has had a positive impact on the livelihood of beneficiaries by ensuring that wages are directly deposited into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The DBT model has been praised for its efficiency, providing a seamless mechanism to reach intended recipients quickly and securely.
Revision of Wage Rates
The Ministry of Rural Development also ensures that the wages paid to MGNREGS workers are in line with inflationary trends. Each year, the wage rates are revised based on the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourer (CPI-AL). For the financial year 2024-25, the wage rate has seen an increase of around 7% compared to the previous year. This adjustment helps workers maintain their purchasing power amid rising living costs, supporting the overall aim of the scheme to improve rural livelihoods.
In addition, each State or Union Territory (UT) is allowed to provide wages above the Central Government’s notified rates. This flexibility enables States/UTs to cater to their specific regional needs, helping them align wages with local economic conditions.
National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS)
Transparency and accountability have always been core objectives of MGNREGS. To further this goal, the Ministry introduced the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App, which became mandatory for attendance capturing at worksites from January 1, 2023. This mobile-based app ensures that workers’ attendance is recorded with two-time stamped, geo-tagged photographs, making the entire process more transparent and verifiable.
The NMMS app has been equipped with new features such as eye-blink recognition, headcount facility, and mate ID mapping with muster rolls. These enhancements not only improve the efficiency of the app but also ensure that wage payments are based on accurate work attendance data. To address any challenges faced due to network issues in remote areas, the app allows for offline attendance capturing, which can later be uploaded once the device is back in a network area.
Moreover, the Ministry has decentralized the process of attendance exemption to the block administration level, ensuring quicker resolutions for any exceptional circumstances that prevent attendance from being uploaded. Continuous training programs are being conducted across States/UTs to ensure that all workers and officials are familiar with the NMMS app, facilitating smooth operations on the ground.
