Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA)  mandate to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household.

Issues Highlighted by the committee

• High Pendencies: Total pending liabilities are ₹23,446.27 crore. It accounts for 27.26% of the current budget.
• Deletion of Job Cards: Around 50.31 lakh job cards were deleted in 2021-22 due to minor spelling errors or Aadhaar mismatches.
• Wage Issues: MGNREGA wages have failed to keep pace with inflation, falling below subsistence levels.
• Irregularities in Social Audit:  Around 67% of planned gram panchayats were audited in 2024-25.

Recommendations given by the committee

• Survey: Independent and transparent survey across the country to gain valuable insights about the program’s shortcomings.
• Increase in compensation: The current compensation rate for delayed wages (0.05% of unpaid wages) should be increased to ensure timely remuneration for workers. 
• Aadhaar Implementation: Aadhaar-Based Payment System can remain optional and alternative payment mechanisms should be made available.
• Strengthening social audit: Social Audit Calendar should be introduced by the Department of Rural Development to ensure regular audits.