New Delhi, November 17, 2025:
In one of the largest verification exercises undertaken under the rural employment guarantee scheme, the government has deleted over 27 lakh MGNREGA workers from its database between October 10 and November 14. The massive purge comes as part of an ongoing e-KYC–based cleansing drive aimed at identifying and removing ineligible, duplicate, or inactive beneficiaries.
According to officials, the pace of deletions has outstripped new additions, highlighting the scale of suspected discrepancies within the system. The government has intensified its push for Aadhaar-based authentication and biometric verification to ensure that only genuine workers continue to receive wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Workers who failed to complete e-KYC formalities, those with mismatched records, and entries flagged as duplicates were among the primary categories removed. States with the largest rural populations saw the highest deletions, although detailed breakups are expected to be released later this week.
The move has sparked mixed reactions:
Government officials say the cleanup is essential to prevent leakages and ensure funds reach legitimate beneficiaries.
Labour-rights groups and activists, however, warn that genuine workers—particularly those in remote areas with poor digital access—may have been incorrectly excluded.
The drive is expected to continue in phases, with the Rural Development Ministry advising states to expedite awareness campaigns and ensure help centres are available for workers completing their pending e-KYC requirements.
