SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 43

Solution: The correct answer is Central Government.
Explanation:
☛ Under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, the statutory authority to determine and notify wage rates is vested in the Central Government.
☛ The Ministry of Rural Development periodically revises and notifies state-wise wage rates for unskilled manual workers.
☛ Wage rates are typically linked to the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) to protect rural workers against inflation.
☛ While the Central Government fixes and funds the baseline wage rates, State Governments retain the option to provide an additional wage top-up from their own state budgets.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Gram Panchayat: Acts as the primary planning and implementing body at the local level, responsible for receiving work applications and issuing job cards.
☛ State Government: Responsible for formulating state employment guarantee rules, establishing the State Employment Guarantee Fund, and paying unemployment allowances if work is not provided on time.
☛ District Officer / District Programme Coordinator: Ensures effective implementation, coordination, and timely sanctioning of projects across blocks in the district.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which index is primarily used to adjust rural employment guarantee wage rates for inflation? → Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL)
☛ Within how many days must employment be provided from the date of application to avoid paying an unemployment allowance? → 15 days
☛ Which local self-government institution is responsible for conducting the mandatory social audit of rural work projects? → Gram Sabha
☛ Under rural employment guarantee laws, what minimum percentage of beneficiaries should ideally be women? → At least one-third (33%)
☛ Which tier of Panchayati Raj is responsible for approving the shelf of projects for rural employment? → Gram Panchayat