CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -During the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when the scheme was ramped up, and given its highest-ever budget of ₹1.11 lakh crore, it provided a critical lifeline for a record 11 crore workers.

Detailed explanation-2: -As per the budget data last year the BE for the scheme was Rs 73, 000 crore and the Revised Estimate (RE) was Rs 89, 400 crore. Further, the actual expenditure for MGNREGA in 2021-2022 was at Rs 98, 468 crore while the BE was Rs 73000 crore.

Detailed explanation-3: -Allocation over years The increase was the sharpest, at 55 per cent, between FY20 and FY21, owing to the pandemic. That year, a massive ₹1.11 lakh crore was allocated for the scheme. In FY22, it went down to ₹98, 000 crore and then to ₹73, 000 crore in FY23.

Detailed explanation-4: -Mahatma Gandhi NREGA aims at enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Detailed explanation-5: -Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) a total of 11.37 Crore households availed employment and a total of 289.24 crore person-days employment has been generated (till 15th December, 2022). RSETIs have trained 3.74 Lakhs of which 2.51 lakhs candidates have been settled till 30.11. 2022.