Pakistan, Dec. 16 -- India has introduced legislation to expand its 20-year-old rural employment programme by increasing the number of guaranteed workdays. The proposed bill would raise employment from 100 to 125 days per household annually for unskilled manual labour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has allocated 860 billion rupees ($9.5 billion) for the scheme for the current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2026. Officials said the expansion aligns with the government's long-term goal of making India a developed economy by the 100th anniversary of independence in 2047.

The bill focuses on generating employment through infrastructure projects, including rural roads and water supply systems. It also incorporates measures to addr...