Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) Becomes Mandatory for MGNREGA Wages.

National | Dated: 01 Jan 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, the Union Government has made the Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS) mandatory for the payment of wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This move aims to curb leakages, ensure timely payments, and eliminate fake job cards from the system.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • To receive wages, a worker's bank account must be seeded with Aadhaar and mapped to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) database.
  • Exceptions will be made only for Gram Panchayats with severe technical connectivity issues, on a case-by-case basis.
  • Currently, 98% of active workers have been verified for ABPS compliance.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • Scheme: MGNREGA.
  • Requirement: Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS).
  • Effective: Jan 1, 2026.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

The ABPS has been made mandatory for wage payments under which scheme from January 1, 2026?

Correct Answer: MGNREGA

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Ministry of Rural Development

  • Minister – Shivraj Singh Chouhan
  • MoS – Kamlesh Paswan