Question

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was first passed by which of the following coalition governments?

• A. The National Front - 1989 to 1990
• B. National Democratic Alliance, 1999 to 2004
• C. United Progressive Alliance - I, 2004 to 2009
• D. United Progressive Alliance - II, 2009 to 2014

Hint:

NREGA is a landmark legislation that aimed to enhance the livelihood security of rural households by providing a legal guarantee for at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of rural families.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), now known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was first passed in 2005 by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) - I government led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. The act was implemented to provide employment opportunities to rural households.

Answer 2

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), later renamed as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was first passed in 2005 by the United Progressive Alliance - I (UPA-I) government, which was in power from 2004 to 2009.

The UPA-I government was a coalition led by the Indian National Congress and supported externally by several parties, including the Left Front. The passage of NREGA was one of the key social welfare promises made in the UPA’s Common Minimum Programme.

Objective of the Act:
NREGA was enacted with the objective of enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Key Features:
- Legal guarantee for wage employment
- Demand-driven program where work must be provided within 15 days of request
- Payment of wages within 15 days
- Emphasis on transparency, accountability, and social audit

The Act was initially implemented in 200 districts and later expanded in phases to cover the entire country. It is widely regarded as one of the world’s largest and most ambitious social security and public works programs.

Conclusion:
The NREGA was passed by the United Progressive Alliance - I (UPA-I), 2004 to 2009, marking a significant milestone in India’s approach to rural employment and social welfare.