MGNREGA gets a name change: Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Yojana is new name for India's flagship rural job scheme

In a landmark decision, the Central government on December 12 approved the change of name for MGNREGA, renaming India's flagship rural employment scheme as Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Yojana, sources told ET.

The govt also increased the number of minimum guruanteed employment days under the scheme to 125 days. Besides, the minimum wage was revised to Rs 240 per day, the sources added.

The scheme was originally launched with the name National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (NREGA). It was later renamed to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).


It is a labour law aimed at promoting social security under India's principle of guaranteeing the 'right to work'.

Its primary aim is to increase security of livelihood for unskilled citizens in rural India. Under its rules, at least 100 days of wage employment is sought to be provided to willing-to-work adults from every household.