MGNREGA database sees sudden spike in deletions: 27 lakh workers wiped out in one month

A recent surge in deletions from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) database has raised concerns among activists and analysts. According to a report by The Hindu, citing data from Lib Tech, a consortium of academicians and activists, while around 15 lakh deletions were recorded over six months, the number unexpectedly jumped to 27 lakh in just one month, nearly doubling the total for the previous half-year.

Why were so many MGNREGA job cards deleted?

In the first half of the 2025-26 financial year, the scheme had recorded net additions of 83.6 lakh workers, with 98.8 lakh added against 15.2 lakh deletions. However, by mid-November, net additions had dropped to 66.5 lakh, effectively removing 17 lakh workers in just one month. Notably, 6 lakh of these wer