India government releases ₹17,744 crore MGNREGA wages for rural housing and roads

On 2026-04-20, the Government of India’s Ministry of Rural Development said it had released ₹17,744 crore via direct benefit transfer for April MGNREGA wages. The ministry said the funds were meant to ensure uninterrupted implementation and timely payments, alongside a 21% increase in allocation to meet demand under MGNREGA and VBSY. The measure supports rural employment-linked spending and related housing and road activity.