NREGA Job Card — How to Apply, Check Status, Download & View Payment

What is NREGA / MGNREGA?

NREGA stands for National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. It is also called MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). This is a law made by the Government of India in 2005.

Under this scheme:

• Every rural household gets 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per year
• The work is unskilled manual work — like digging wells, building roads, planting trees
• If the government cannot give you work within 15 days of applying, you get unemployment allowance
• Payment is sent directly to your bank account or post office account

MGNREGA is the largest employment programme in the world. It helps crores of families in villages across India.

Who is Eligible for NREGA Job Card?

You can get a NREGA job card if:

• You are an adult member (18 years or older) of a rural household
• You are willing to do unskilled manual work
• You live in an area covered under a Gram Panchayat

There is no income limit. Any rural household can apply — BPL or APL. Both men and women are eligible. One-third of the jobs are reserved for women.

Documents Required

Keep these documents ready before applying:

• Passport-size photographs of all adult family members
• Aadhaar Card (mandatory for wage payment)
• Ration Card or BPL card (for household proof)
• Bank passbook or post office account details
• Address proof — voter ID, electricity bill, or any government ID
• Age proof — Aadhaar, voter ID, or birth certificate

How to Apply for NREGA Job Card

Option 1: Apply Offline (at Gram Panchayat)

This is the most common way. Follow these steps:

1. Go to your Gram Panchayat office
2. Ask for the NREGA job card application form
3. Fill the form with your family details — names, age, and gender of all adult members
4. Attach your photographs and document copies
5. Submit the form to the Gram Panchayat Secretary (Sachiv)
6. You will get a receipt with a date
7. Your job card will be issued within 15 days
8. Collect the job card from the Gram Panchayat

Option 2: Apply Online

Some states allow online application. Steps:

1. Go to nrega.nic.in
2. Select your State from the homepage
3. Look for "Data Entry" or "Online Registration" option
4. Enter your district, block, and panchayat
5. Fill in family details, upload photo and documents
6. Submit the application
7. Note down the registration number for tracking

Note: In most states, online registration is done by the Gram Panchayat on your behalf. If you cannot apply online, visit your Gram Panchayat directly.

How to Check NREGA Job Card Status

To see if your job card has been issued:

1. Open nrega.nic.in
2. Click on "Job Cards" under the Reports section
3. Select your State → District → Block → Panchayat
4. A list of all job card holders in your panchayat will appear
5. Find your name in the list
6. Click on your Job Card Number to see full details

You will see your family members, work done, days worked, and payments received — all in one place.

How to Download NREGA Job Card

1. Go to nrega.nic.in
2. Navigate to Reports → Job Cards
3. Select your State → District → Block → Panchayat
4. Find and click on your Job Card Number
5. Your job card will open in the browser
6. Right-click and select "Print" or "Save as PDF" to download

Tip: You can also take a screenshot on your mobile phone and save it for your records.

How to Check NREGA Payment Status

After working, your wages are processed through FTO (Fund Transfer Order). To check if your payment has been sent:

1. Go to nrega.nic.in
2. Click on your State
3. Go to Reports → R6 FTO (Fund Transfer Order)
4. Select District → Block → Panchayat
5. You will see the list of FTOs with status — First sign, Second sign, FTO sent to bank
6. Check if your name is in the FTO list

Check Payment in Your Job Card

1. Open your job card online (see steps above)
2. Scroll down to see work details
3. Each work entry shows — days worked, amount due, amount paid, and payment date
4. If it shows "Processed" — money has been sent to your bank

Payment Not Received?

• Check your bank account or post office account — sometimes there is a delay of 2-3 days
• If payment shows "Processed" but money not in account, contact your bank branch
• If payment is pending for more than 15 days, file a complaint (see below)

NREGA Wages by State (2025-26)

NREGA wages are fixed by the Central Government every year. Here are the daily wages for the top states:

Wages are revised every year on 1st April. Check the latest notification on nrega.nic.in for your state's current wage rate.

How to Check Muster Roll / Attendance

The muster roll is a record of your daily attendance at the NREGA work site. To check it:

1. Go to nrega.nic.in
2. Go to Reports → R3 Work Reports → Muster Roll
3. Select your State → District → Block → Panchayat
4. Select the work name and time period
5. You will see the attendance list — your name, dates worked, and wages calculated

Important: If your attendance is wrong or missing, report it to your Gram Panchayat or Programme Officer immediately.

How to Update Bank Account in NREGA

If you have changed your bank account, you must update it in the NREGA system:

1. Visit your Gram Panchayat office
2. Carry your new bank passbook (with Aadhaar linked)
3. Submit a written request to update your bank details
4. The Panchayat will update it on the NREGA portal
5. Verify the change on nrega.nic.in by checking your job card online

Your Aadhaar must be linked to your bank account for NREGA payments. Visit your bank to link Aadhaar if not done.

How to File a Complaint

If you are not getting work, not getting paid, or facing any problem with NREGA:

Call the Helpline

📞 Toll-Free Number: 1800-345-22-44

This helpline is free of cost. You can call from any phone.

File Complaint Online

1. Go to nrega.nic.in
2. Look for "Grievance" or "Public Grievance" section
3. Enter your job card number and complaint details
4. You will get a complaint number — save it for tracking

Complain at Gram Panchayat

• Give a written complaint to the Gram Panchayat Secretary
• If not resolved, go to the Block Development Officer (BDO)
• If still not resolved, contact the District Programme Coordinator (DPC)

Other Helplines

• UMANG App — search for MGNREGA services
• State helpline numbers — check your state government website

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How many days of work can I get under NREGA?

Every household gets 100 days of guaranteed employment per year. Some states provide additional days from state funds.

Q2: Can I apply for NREGA job card online?

Yes, you can register through nrega.nic.in in some states. But the easiest way is to visit your Gram Panchayat and apply in person.

Q3: How long does it take to get a job card?

Your NREGA job card should be issued within 15 days of applying at the Gram Panchayat.

Q4: What if I don't get work within 15 days of demanding it?

You are entitled to unemployment allowance. The amount is one-fourth of the wage rate for the first 30 days, and half the wage rate after that. File a demand for work in writing at your Gram Panchayat.

Q5: Can women apply for NREGA?

Yes! Both men and women can apply. At least one-third of all NREGA workers must be women. Equal wages are paid to men and women.

Q6: Is Aadhaar mandatory for NREGA?

Aadhaar is mandatory for receiving wage payments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Link your Aadhaar to your bank account to avoid payment delays.

Q7: What kind of work is done under NREGA?

Common works include — road construction, well digging, pond desilting, tree planting, land levelling, irrigation canal building, and house construction (under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana convergence).