UPSC Prelims 2011 Q41: Indian Economy – Human Development, Poverty & Employment Schemes
Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act”?
- (a) Adult members of only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households
- (b) Adult members of below poverty line (BPL) households
- (c) Adult members of households of all backward communities
- (d) Adult members of any household
Answer: (d) Adult members of any household
Explanation
Who is eligible under MGNREGA
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is a universal rural entitlement, not restricted to any particular social group.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Only SC/ST households | Incorrect | MGNREGA is not restricted to SC/ST households alone |
| (b) Only BPL households | Incorrect | Eligibility does not depend on BPL status; it is universal for rural adults |
| (c) Only backward communities' households | Incorrect | Again, this wrongly restricts eligibility to specific social categories |
| (d) Adult members of any household | Correct | MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of wage employment to adult members of any rural household willing to do unskilled manual work, with no caste/class/income restriction |
MGNREGA eligibility:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Any adult in a rural household |
| Condition | Must be willing to do unskilled manual work |
| Guarantee | Up to 100 days of wage employment per household per year |
Answer: (d) Adult members of any household.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. MGNREGA eligibility is not limited to Scheduled Caste/Tribe households.
- (b) Incorrect. There is no BPL requirement; the scheme is universal for willing rural adults.
- (c) Incorrect. It is not restricted to backward community households either.
- (d) CORRECT. MGNREGA is open to adult members of any rural household willing to do unskilled manual work.
Key point
MGNREGA eligibility is UNIVERSAL: adult members of ANY rural household willing to do unskilled manual work — no caste, class, or income restriction.
Remember
MGNREGA: open to adult members of ANY rural household willing to do unskilled manual work, no BPL/caste filter.
Common mistakes
- Assuming MGNREGA, like many welfare schemes, is means-tested (BPL-only).
- Wrongly restricting eligibility to SC/ST or backward communities.
- Not recognising MGNREGA's defining feature: universal rural entitlement.
Exam tip
MGNREGA = universal self-selecting demand-driven scheme. Any option adding a caste/income filter is wrong.
Sources
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
- Ministry of Rural Development — MGNREGA guidelines