This is a systematic review, conducted using the PRISMA 2020 framework, that analyzes the socio-economic impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on rural livelihoods in India. Synthesizing findings from 54 peer-reviewed articles and government reports published between 2005 and 2024, the study evaluates the scheme’s effects on employment, income, women’s empowerment, poverty, and migration. The review confirms that MGNREGA has significantly improved rural livelihoods by providing income security, enhancing women's participation, and reducing distress migration. However, the analysis also highlights persistent implementation challenges, including regional disparities, wage payment delays, and corruption. The findings are summarized using PRISMA flow diagrams and thematic tables to provide a robust, evidence-based assessment for policymakers and researchers.
timmiri et al. (Tue,) studied this question.