Which of the following is main objective of the MGNREGA?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), launched in 2005, is one of the most significant anti-poverty and employment guarantee programs in the world. Its core mandate is to provide a legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. However, the legislation is designed to achieve broader socio-economic goals simultaneously. By guaranteeing employment (Reduce rural unemployment), the scheme injects purchasing power directly into rural households, which is a primary mechanism for alleviating poverty (Reduce rural poverty). Crucially, the work undertaken under MGNREGA is focused on creating durable community assets such, as water conservation structures, rural connectivity, and irrigation facilities, which directly contributes to the Development of rural basic infrastructure. Therefore, all three individual objectives are integral and intertwined components of the scheme, making "All of the above" the most accurate answer that reflects the program's holistic mandate.

The incorrect option is 1: Reduce rural unemployment
While reducing rural unemployment is the direct and primary mechanism of the scheme (by guaranteeing 100 days of work), it is not the *only* major objective. MGNREGA's success is also measured by the resultant decrease in poverty and the creation of durable assets.

The incorrect option is 2: Reduce rural poverty
Reducing rural poverty is an outcome of the guaranteed wage employment provided by the scheme. Although a key goal, poverty reduction alone does not capture the institutional and infrastructure-building aspects of the Act.

The incorrect option is 3: Development of rural basic infrastructure
This is a critical physical outcome of the work performed under the Act, ensuring that the wages paid lead to productive and long-term societal benefits. However, classifying this as the *main* objective ignores the immediate social security and empowerment provided by the employment guarantee itself.