Context:
A political and policy debate has emerged following the Union Agriculture Minister’s remarks calling MGNREGA “synonymous with corruption”, alongside the introduction of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) and the unveiling of climate-resilient seed varieties to strengthen India’s agricultural future.
Key Highlights:
- Criticism of MGNREGA
- MGNREGA has received a cumulative allocation of ₹8.48 lakh crore, significantly higher than the ₹2 lakh crore during the UPA period.
- Over 10.51 lakh complaints were recorded under social audits, cited as evidence of corruption.
- The government argues that structural inefficiencies undermine the scheme’s effectiveness.
- Proposed Alternative Framework
- The Viksit Bharat Guarantee (Gramin) Bill aims to provide a more efficient employment and livelihood model.
- Emphasis is placed on accountability, productivity, and outcome-based support.
- Agricultural Productivity Push
- 184 high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties of 25 crops were unveiled.
- Crop coverage includes:
- 122 cereals
- 6 pulses
- 13 oilseeds
- 24 cotton
- Others including sugarcane, fodder, jute, and tobacco
- India’s rice production reached 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China.
- Institutional Support
- ICAR, agricultural universities, and private players are developing seeds suited for:
- Acidic soils
- Organic and natural farming
- Regenerative agriculture
- National Seeds Corporation ensures large-scale seed multiplication and distribution.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- MGNREGA: Guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
- Climate-resilient seeds: Designed to withstand drought, salinity, and temperature stress.
- ICAR: Apex body for agricultural research and education in India.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Employment schemes face trade-offs between scale, accountability, and efficiency.
- Climate-resilient agriculture is critical for food security under climate stress.
- Seed innovation reduces production risk and input costs for farmers.
- Political critique must be balanced with institutional reform rather than abandonment.
- Way Forward
- Strengthen social audits and transparency in rural employment schemes.
- Integrate employment generation with asset creation and climate adaptation.
- Ensure equitable access to improved seeds for small and marginal farmers.
- Align rural livelihood policies with long-term agricultural sustainability.
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper II – Governance
GS Paper III – Economy, Environment & Agriculture