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Abstract
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee ACT (MGNREGA), 2005 has been implemented to provide for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. And its implementation at the field level is known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has been a significant initiative for rural employment and poverty alleviation in India. This research paper evaluates the scheme's implementation and impact, using available data and research studies. The evaluation specifies that the MGNREGS has provided employment opportunities to millions of rural households, particularly women and marginalized communities. The scheme has also contributed to rural infrastructure development and poverty reduction. However, the scheme faces challenges such as inadequate funds, implementation issues, and corruption. The research paper highlights the need for reform to address these challenges and improve the scheme's implementation, transparency, and accountability. Overall, the paper concludes that the MGNREGS has played a crucial role in the development of rural areas in India and has been successful in improving the livelihoods of rural households.