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Sunday, January 4, 2026
TopicRural Development Ministry

Topic: Rural Development Ministry

After MPs’ muted response to Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Centre sanctions survey before phase 2

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, one of PM’s pet projects, was launched in 2014. Only 54% of nearly 6,300 gram panchayats have been adopted by MPs. Slow pace a cause for concern, say officials.

Digitisation of urban land records to be rolled out soon, 1st phase to cover over 100 cities

Cities with population of less than 2 lakh to be taken up under project likely to be rolled out this week. A centralised portal is on anvil for states to upload land records data.

States & UTs closed just 3.7% of 9+ lakh MGNREGS-related issues raised by social auditors in 2023-24

Rural ministry data shows auditors surveyed 73.04% of 2.69 lakh gram panchayats, flagging issues like funds misappropriation, violations in scheme implementation & workers' grievances.

Women’s participation in MGNREGS hits 10-yr high at 58.8%. Meghalaya, UP see biggest spikes

Gradual increase in number of women seeking work under scheme attributed to involvement of women SHGs, horticulture related jobs, and 'women mates' who supervise MGNREGS works.

88% of sanctioned PMAY-G houses ready so far, several states & UTs yet to achieve half of target

With scheme ending on 31 March, states and UTs have been asked to expedite work. Laggards include Andhra Pradesh and some northeastern states.

Don’t make Aadhaar-based payments mandatory for NREGA till mechanism is foolproof: House panel

The system, first introduced in 2017, was finally made mandatory in January. But a panel report tabled Thursday, says all ‘major bottlenecks’ should be resolved first.

With Rs 86,000-cr for FY25, MNREGS budget sees no change from 2023-24 revised estimate as polls loom

FY25 allocation is exactly the same outlay as given in revised estimates for the current financial year. Activists say it's not sufficient to meet demand for work in rural areas.

Parliamentary panel flags poor quality of rural roads built under PMGSY, asks govt to ‘tighten grip’

In Action Taken Report (ATR) tabled in Parliament, the panel did not accept the rural development ministry’s explanation regarding the quality check mechanism put in place.  

UP, MP to Assam, several districts have no MGNREGS ombudsperson to address workers’ grievances

Over 170 districts in India don't have an ombudsperson, a mandatory requirement under the job guarantee scheme. In some states, 1 ombudsperson allotted for 2 districts, it is learnt.

MGNREGS skilling project a non-starter 4 yrs on with only 22% workers trained. Centre blames states

'Unnati' initiative was launched in December 2019 with aim to train 2 lakh workers registered under MGNREGS by March 2022. Earlier this year, the deadline was extended to March 2025.

On Camera

Wall Street carries big expectations this year after best run since 2009

The concern is not that 2025’s rally was irrational, but that it may be difficult to repeat. Outlooks remain anchored to AI investment and growth without reigniting inflation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.