Sources from the Union Rural Development Ministry informed CNBC-TV18 that factors such as an agricultural pause in seven states, floods in the Northeast, and data accuracy issues stemming from AI implementation contributed to this decline.
According to the G Ram G dashboard, person-days in July this year amounted to 7.67 crore, in contrast to 15.33 crore person-days in July 2025, during the MNREGA period.
The Rural Development Ministry sources told CNBC-TV18, “Seven states, including Bihar and Odisha, observed an agriculture pause for several days in July during the Kharif sowing season. This affected the total number of person-days generated under the scheme.”
G Ram G allows for a 60-day agricultural pause, enabling state governments to halt work provisions to ensure laborers are available for farming activities. States determine the timing and duration of these pauses.
Sources pointed out that the floods in the Northeast are another factor contributing to the decline.
When questioned about the annual occurrence of floods in the Northeast, sources noted that this year’s impact has been more irregular than in previous years. While some regions have experienced similar or slight increases in person-days, others have seen a downturn.
Additionally, sources mentioned that the growing use of AI has helped reduce data duplication, influencing the overall person-day statistics.
The Ministry has asserted that G Ram G is a demand-driven scheme and that 99% of the work demand has been fulfilled.
Furthermore, sources indicated to CNBC-TV18 that since MNREGA and G Ram G have different provisions, a more equitable comparison will be made between this year and the next.
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