Overview

• The court ended a nearly three-year halt of the scheme, which was suspended in March 2022 over allegations of wage disbursement irregularities.
• A division bench led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam granted the Centre authority to apply state-specific conditions, including direct fund transfers and enhanced monitoring.
• West Bengal received ₹7,507.8 crore under MGNREGA in 2021–22 but saw no allocations for the next three fiscal years, impacting about 2.5 crore registered rural workers.
• The Trinamool Congress government welcomed the verdict and will seek review as it pushes for release of four years of withheld central funds to pay unpaid wages.
• The scheme’s revival is poised to shape political debate ahead of the 2026 state elections as parties compete to claim credit.