News: Rural Development Year Ender 2025 highlights gains in connectivity, housing, livelihoods, employment, skilling, social security, and enactment of a new employment guarantee law for inclusive rural growth.

Key findings:

Rural Connectivity (PMGSY):

• 95% of 7.87 lakh km sanctioned roads completed since 2000
• Tamil Nadu led in roads laid, Himachal Pradesh in road length, Bihar in bridges.

Women-Centric Livelihoods (DAY-NRLM):

• 05 crore women in 90.9 lakh SHGs
• 2 crore Lakhpati Didis
• 19% income rise
• 28% savings increase

Skilling & Employment (DDUGKY, RSETIs):

• ~82,000 trained in 2025
• 64 lakh DDU-GKY placements total
• 59 lakh RSETI-trained, 43 lakh settled.
• RSETI 2.0 aims for 50% credit linkage, promoting employability and non-farm income

MGNREGS (FY 2025–26):

• 6 crore person-days generated
• 73% women participation
• 95% attendance via National Mobile Monitoring, 6.44 crore geotagged assets, 99% DBT wages.

New employment guarantee law

New Law (VB–G RAM G Act, 2025):

• Extended guarantee to 125 days with Gram Sabha-led planning via Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs).

Social Security (NSAP 2025–26):

• 01 crore beneficiaries
• 45% Aadhaar seeding
• 44 lakh Digital Life Certifications

Governance (DISHA):

• 100 schemes from 35 ministries on real-time dashboard
• MP/CM-led committees enhanced convergence and federalism.

Outcome:

• Strengthened convergence
• Accountability, federalism & on-ground delivery of rural development programmes