Verified MGNREGA Job Cards Likely to Remain Valid During Transition to New Law
Official sources revealed on Thursday that the Ministry of Rural Development is considering a plan. This plan would allow verified job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to be used during the transition to a new scheme.
New Law Replaces MGNREGA
Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Act in December 2025. This new law replaces the twenty-year-old MGNREGA. It increases guaranteed employment days from one hundred to one hundred twenty-five. The Act also raises the share of funding from states.
The government expects to implement the Act very soon. A notification will announce the applicable date. From that day, all states will have six months to formulate their own schemes under the new law.
Transitional Provisions Ensure Smooth Change
During this transitional phase, individuals who completed e-KYC for their existing job cards will likely continue using them. Sources indicate about seventy-five percent of job cards have been seeded with Aadhaar and verified.
An official stated the government will notify rules for the transition. The aim is to make the process as smooth as possible. Section 37 of the Act provides for repealing and transitional provisions. It states that actions taken under the old Act will be deemed valid under the new one, if not inconsistent.
Enhanced Features of the New Scheme
The new scheme introduces several improvements:
- Social Audit Mechanism: This will be strengthened to ensure transparency.
- Panchayat Nirnay App: The public can view details of social audits through this app from the Panchayati Raj Ministry.
- Weekly Public Disclosure: Meetings at the panchayat level will disclose ongoing works and progress.
- E-Measurement Book: This feature will track progress and wages paid for works.
Political Context and Implementation Timeline
The Act passed amid uproar in Parliament. The Opposition protested against it. The Congress party announced a forty-five-day protest, arguing the law takes away the right to work and centralizes the scheme.
While the Act should commence this financial year, the rollout timeline in states remains uncertain. Officials emphasize the focus on a seamless transition for rural households.
