India, July 29 -- The average number of days of employment provided to rural households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme fell to 43 in 2025-26, the lowest in a decade, according to data shared by the government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, replying to a starred question, said the average number of workdays per household declined from 50 in 2024-25 to 43 in 2025-26. The average stood at 24 days in the current financial year as of June 2026.

The data showed that the average number of workdays provided under the scheme has remained well below the statutory guarantee of 100 days. The average has fluctuated between 38 and 52 days since 2008-09.

The highest ...