How to apply for MGNREGA job card — 100 days work guarantee (2026)

• Adult member (18+) of rural household
• Willing to do unskilled manual work
• No restriction on caste / income / gender

1. Apply at Gram Panchayat — Visit Panchayat secretary with photo + ID + family Aadhaar list. Form by hand.
2. Or apply online — nrega.nic.in → Job Card services → New Registration. Aadhaar OTP eKYC.
3. Submit family details — All adult members listed (each gets one job card per HH). Photo + Aadhaar of each.
4. Receive job card in 15 days — Statutory deadline. Card has unique number + Photo + Aadhaar of all adults.
5. Demand work — Submit Form 6 to Panchayat (oral or written). Acknowledgement compulsory.
6. Work starts within 15 days — If not — unemployment allowance: 1/4th of wage rate for first 30 days, 1/2 thereafter.
7. Daily attendance — Muster roll signed daily at worksite. Photographs uploaded daily under NMMS app.
8. Wage credited in 15 days — NEFT to Aadhaar-linked account at notified state wage (Rs 250-380/day depending on state, 2025-26).
9. Compensation if delayed — 0.05% per day of delay = ~6% annual interest on delayed wages.

• Online portal: NREGA portal
• Offline: Gram Panchayat office (primary). Block Development Office (BDO) for grievances.
• Fee: Free at every stage · Wage: state-notified, Rs 250-380/day
• Timeline: Job card: 15 days statutory · Work: 15 days from demand · Wage: 15 days from work completion

See our complete checklist: Documents required for mgnrega job card — covers mandatory + optional + size/format specs.

• Job card refused — Panchayat cannot deny; cite MGNREGA §3. File complaint at Block Programme Officer + RTI.
• Work demand denied / delayed — unemployment allowance payable; file claim at Block Programme Officer.
• Wage delayed >15 days — compensation 0.05%/day. Claim at PO; track at NMMS app.
• Worksite > 5 km away — entitled to 10% extra wage as travel allowance. Insist on it.

Most “delays” or “rejections” clear within 7-15 days of an RTI being filed. Use this 5-question template:

1. Status of my application no. _____ dated _____ as on date.
2. The name + designation of the dealing officer assigned to my file.
3. The reasons for delay beyond the statutory timeline.
4. Copy of any noting / movement of my file in the past 30 days.
5. The likely date of issuance of my certificate / approval.

Auto-fill the PIO details + your case: Open the RTI Drafter →

Or browse state-wise scheme procedures: All state portals + RTI templates

Track your application status: How to check status guide

Per household — one job card per family with all adults listed. 100 days for the family combined.

Yes — both get equal wage. At least 33% of work must go to women under §6.

Submit Form 6 demand. If 15 days pass — unemployment allowance + complaint to PO. RTI to Panchayat for muster rolls + work shelf.

No — only unskilled manual work. Skilled work paid at higher rate but only for trained workers (10% of total).

File RTI to Programme Officer + Panchayat Sachiv. Use our MGNREGA RTI generator.

• How to check status — 25 high-traffic services
• Documents required — 30 checklists
• All state RTI portals
• Full RTI Playbook — 100+ scenarios

• Official portal: https://nrega.nic.in
• Citizen feedback collected via AwaazRTI (composite, identifying details removed).
• Statutory references: see relevant Act sections.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.