On March 18, 2025, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) released an important notification concerning the Aadhaar-Based Payment System (APBS) under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). This notification aims to streamline wage payments and enhance transparency for the millions of workers benefiting from the scheme.
1. Mandatory Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS)
To ensure timely and accurate wage payments, the Ministry has made the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) mandatory from January 1, 2024. This system directly links workers’ wages to their Aadhaar numbers, addressing challenges like frequent changes in bank account details. This initiative will reduce errors and delays, ensuring that wages are paid directly to the beneficiaries’ accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Currently, a total of 13.55 crore active workers have been included under the scheme, with 99.49% Aadhaar seeding already completed. The Central Government is continuously monitoring State/UT progress to achieve 100% Aadhaar Seeding and full APBS conversion in the NREGASoft system.
2. Wage Rate Revision for 2024-25
In line with Section 6(1) of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the wage rates for unskilled laborers under the scheme have been revised. The wage rate for the financial year 2024-25 has seen a 7% increase compared to the previous year, to compensate for inflation and rising costs. The revised wages are applicable from April 1, 2024.
States and Union Territories (UTs) are allowed to pay additional wages beyond the central government-mandated rates, promoting local flexibility in wage determination.
3. Implementation of National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS)
To ensure better accountability and transparency, the Ministry has implemented the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App for attendance tracking at work sites. Since January 1, 2023, attendance is captured through the app with geo-tagged photographs and two timestamps each day (except for individual beneficiary works).
In case of network issues, workers can record their attendance offline and upload it when the device is back in a network area. For exceptional circumstances, Block-level administration has been authorized to provide exemptions.
The NMMS app now features several enhancements to improve user experience, including:
- Eye Blink Facility
- Head Count Facility
- Mate ID Mapping with Muster Roll
- Relaxed Proximity Range for Community Works
4. State/UT-wise Wage Rates for FY 2024-25
The following table provides the average wage per person per day under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for the current financial year (as of March 13, 2025):
| State/UT | Average Wage per Person Day (Rs.) |
| Andhra Pradesh | 255.52 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 233.88 |
| Assam | 248.43 |
| Bihar | 239.03 |
| Chhattisgarh | 219.32 |
| Goa | 356.00 |
| Gujarat | 248.16 |
| Haryana | 363.55 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 270.89 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 257.61 |
| Jharkhand | 271.79 |
| Karnataka | 328.57 |
| Kerala | 344.23 |
| Ladakh | 258.64 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 228.77 |
| Maharashtra | 282.10 |
| Manipur | 271.61 |
| Meghalaya | 253.90 |
| Mizoram | 265.95 |
| Nagaland | 233.97 |
| Odisha | 270.56 |
| Punjab | 316.86 |
| Rajasthan | 206.51 |
| Sikkim | 249.71 |
| Tamil Nadu | 275.14 |
| Telangana | 213.90 |
| Tripura | 218.35 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 236.33 |
| Uttarakhand | 236.89 |
| West Bengal | 0 (Funds withheld) |
| Andaman & Nicobar | 330.15 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 324.00 |
| Lakshadweep | 0 (No person days generated) |
| Puducherry | 290.70 |
Note: Payments to West Bengal have been halted due to non-compliance with central directives, and no person days have been generated in Lakshadweep in FY 2024-25.
5. Ongoing Support and Awareness Campaigns
The Ministry has emphasized that it is committed to resolving any issues faced by the workers or stakeholders concerning the NMMS app and Aadhaar-based payments. Continuous awareness campaigns and training programs are being conducted across States/UTs to familiarize officials and workers with these new systems.
This step towards integrating Aadhaar-based systems and wage revisions is aimed at strengthening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, ensuring transparency, reducing leakages, and improving the livelihoods of millions of rural workers across India.
