MGNREGA at Village Level — Set 8

Correct Answer: B. B) Basic grants that panchayats can use for any locally determined priority

Untied or basic grants under the 15th Finance Commission are grants that Gram Panchayats can use for any locally determined development priority, providing flexibility for community-based decision making. These grants are provided to all eligible Gram Panchayats based on population and area criteria. In contrast, tied grants must be spent on specific purposes such as sanitation and drinking water. The 15th Finance Commission recommended Rs. 60% of local body grants as basic (untied) grants, allowing panchayats to address their unique local needs while maintaining accountability through audit requirements.

Correct Answer: B. B) It mandates issuance of a dated acknowledgement receipt when a worker applies for work

Section 4(3) of MGNREGA requires the Gram Panchayat to give a dated receipt to any person who applies for work under the Act. This dated receipt is crucial because it establishes the 15-day countdown from which the unemployment allowance liability begins if work is not provided. The receipt also creates an official record of the worker's application that can be used in grievance proceedings. Many states have introduced electronic application systems where digital receipts are issued automatically upon submission, improving transparency and reducing disputes over application dates.

Correct Answer: B. B) MGNREGA constructs anganwadi buildings and provides creche facilities at worksites

MGNREGA converges with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in two ways: firstly, MGNREGA funds can be used to construct Anganwadi buildings in rural areas under permissible works; and secondly, MGNREGA work sites must provide creche facilities (under ICDS/state arrangements) for children of women workers aged below 6 years when there are more than five such children. This convergence ensures that women workers with young children can participate in MGNREGA without compromising childcare. The Anganwadi construction component helps create permanent infrastructure for child nutrition and early education programmes.

Correct Answer: B. B) PMFBY provides crop insurance against natural calamities while MGNREGA provides wage employment on farm-related works

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a crop insurance scheme that provides financial support to farmers when crops are damaged due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases. It is fundamentally different from MGNREGA's support to farmers: while PMFBY compensates for crop losses through insurance payouts, MGNREGA provides wage employment for farm-related works like land levelling, bunding, and farm pond construction on the land of poor farmers. PMFBY addresses income risk for all farmers, while MGNREGA primarily targets landless agricultural workers and marginal farmers who need wage income. Together, they address different dimensions of agricultural risk and rural poverty.

Correct Answer: B. B) BDO sanctioned works above Gram Panchayat capacity, managed block-level shelf of projects, and ensured 15-day employment provision

The Block Development Officer (BDO) functions as the Programme Officer under MGNREGA at the block level. The BDO sanctions works that exceed Gram Panchayat capacity, maintains a block-level shelf of projects, and ensures that employment is provided within 15 days when Gram Panchayats are unable to do so. The BDO also receives compensation claims from workers for delayed wages and acts as the first appellate authority for worker grievances. The BDO coordinates between multiple Gram Panchayats within the block to optimise resource utilisation and ensure the 100-day guarantee is met.

Correct Answer: B. B) A digitised attendance record that eliminates paper muster rolls and reduces scope for manipulation

The e-muster roll under MGNREGA is a digitised attendance record system that replaces paper-based muster rolls at work sites. It was introduced to eliminate manipulation of attendance records, which was a major source of corruption in MGNREGA — where muster rolls were sometimes filled with names of workers who had not actually worked. The e-muster roll is integrated with the MGNREGA MIS system and generates wage payments automatically based on recorded attendance. When combined with the NMMS app for geo-tagged photo-based attendance, the e-muster roll makes fraudulent wage claims very difficult.

Correct Answer: B. B) A MGNREGA convergence initiative for plantation and afforestation works creating rural employment

The Harit Pradesh (Green State) initiative is a convergence programme between MGNREGA and the Forest Department that focuses on afforestation, plantation of fruit trees, and nursery development using MGNREGA labour. Works include planting on degraded lands, roadside plantation, creation of community forests, and development of village nurseries. MGNREGA wages are paid to workers for undertaking these plantation activities, while the Forest Department provides technical guidance and saplings. This initiative creates green cover, improves the local environment, and generates employment simultaneously, demonstrating effective multi-department convergence under MGNREGA.

Correct Answer: B. B) MGNREGA provides unskilled labour wages for construction of houses under PMAY-G

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) provides financial assistance to rural BPL households for construction of pucca houses. MGNREGA converges with PMAY-G by providing wages for the unskilled labour component (90 person-days) of each house construction. The beneficiary household members work on their own house construction under MGNREGA and receive wages, while PMAY-G provides the material cost assistance. This convergence ensures that beneficiary families not only get a house but also earn wages during construction, significantly reducing their financial burden. It is one of the most successful convergence models under MGNREGA.

Correct Answer: B. B) Ward Sabha facilitates demand aggregation for MGNREGA works at the ward level before Gram Sabha

The Ward Sabha (ward-level meeting of residents) plays a preparatory role in MGNREGA implementation by facilitating demand aggregation at the sub-Gram Panchayat level. Before the annual Gram Sabha meeting where the shelf of projects is finalised, Ward Sabhas identify the priority works required in each ward and aggregate demand for employment. This bottom-up planning process ensures that all habitations within a Gram Panchayat have their needs represented in the annual work plan. Ward Sabha involvement is particularly important in large multi-habitation Gram Panchayats where some wards might otherwise be ignored in planning.

Correct Answer: B. B) Community mobilisation of vulnerable households especially SC/ST women for MGNREGA participation

'Sangathan Se Samriddhi' (Prosperity through Organisation) is a Ministry of Rural Development initiative to mobilise the most vulnerable rural households, particularly SC/ST women and other marginalised groups, to demand and access their MGNREGA entitlements. The initiative works through SHG networks and community mobilisers to identify households not accessing MGNREGA benefits, help them register job cards, and support them in demanding work. It is part of a broader effort to make MGNREGA more inclusive and reach those at the bottom of the social hierarchy who may be excluded by social discrimination or lack of awareness.