Centre Renames MGNREGA as ‘Pujya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojana’, Increases Work Days to 125; Opposition Hits Out

Digital Desk

The Centre has renamed the MGNREGA as ‘Pujya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojana’ and raised guaranteed rural work days from 100 to 125. Congress and other opposition leaders criticize the move, calling it politically motivated.

The Central government has officially approved the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to Pujya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojana. Alongside the name change, the Union Cabinet has also decided to increase the scheme’s guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 per financial year, as per sources quoted by PTI.

Implemented in 2005, MGNREGA—popularly known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme—aims to enhance livelihood security for rural households by providing a minimum of 100 days of wage employment to adult members willing to engage in unskilled manual labor. The new amendment is said to strengthen rural jobs and boost income for workers in villages.

However, the renaming move has triggered a heated political debate across parties.

Opposition Questions Name Change

Congress leaders were quick to react, criticizing the government’s decision to rename a scheme already dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi questioned the logic behind the move, terming it an “unnecessary expense.”

She remarked that renaming the scheme would require massive administrative changes—from updating office materials to modifying stationery and signboards. “What is the need for doing this unnecessarily? Everything already carries the name of Gandhiji,” she said.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also expressed strong criticism. Sharing a video statement on social media platform X, she accused the Modi government of rebranding welfare schemes initiated during the UPA era for political publicity.

Shrinate noted that Prime Minister Modi had earlier described MGNREGA as a symbol of the Congress’s failures, yet the scheme has now become an essential part of rural India. “Modi has renamed MGNREGA as Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Scheme, but this is nothing new. For 11 years, the government has been renaming Congress-era schemes to make them appear as fresh initiatives,” she claimed.

She also released a list of 32 welfare schemes that, according to her, have been renamed since 2014.

Other Opposition Voices React

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi joined the criticism, saying such decisions are being taken “out of frustration” to divert public attention from core issues. She also referred to ongoing debates over historical narratives, adding, “Those aware of true history will always understand the contribution of the Gandhi family.”

While the Centre has described the move as a part of its broader effort to increase rural employment opportunities, the opposition insists it reflects an ongoing trend of renaming rather than reforming programmes.

As Parliament prepares to take up discussions on the bill, the renaming of MGNREGA is expected to remain a key political talking point in the coming days.