Overview
- Union ministers outlined the new framework as law, highlighting 125 guaranteed workdays, full digitisation with GPS monitoring, weekly wage payments, and flexibility to pause works for up to 60 days during peak farm seasons.
- The government said implementation begins with phased notifications, giving states up to six months to adopt the scheme and providing for overlap where MGNREGA continues until notification.
- Congress expanded its 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and plans a Kaam Maango Abhiyan this month to help workers formally demand employment and petition the President.
- State-level pushback intensified, with Karnataka preparing a special Assembly session and legal steps, Kerala Congress urging an Assembly resolution, and Telangana already passing a resolution seeking restoration of the original law.
- Officials detailed financing under a 60:40 split with normative state-wise allocations, citing ₹95,692 crore from the Centre and ₹55,589 crore from states annually and an additional ₹340 crore projected for Telangana, figures the opposition says shift burdens onto states.