Correct Answer: 2005

Solution : The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was enacted in the year (b) 2005.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, also known as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was passed by the Parliament of India in 2005. The Act was later renamed in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, the iconic leader of India's independence movement.

NREGA is a social welfare legislation that guarantees the right to employment for rural households in India. It aims to provide at least 100 days of wage employment to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act seeks to address issues of rural poverty, unemployment, and underemployment by providing a social safety net and creating productive assets in rural areas.

Under NREGA, rural households can apply for work and, if eligible, are provided with employment opportunities within 15 days of application. The Act also ensures that wages are paid on time and sets a minimum wage rate for the work performed.

NREGA has had a significant impact on rural livelihoods in India, providing employment opportunities, promoting sustainable development, and reducing distress migration. The Act has been instrumental in improving rural infrastructure, water conservation, afforestation, and agricultural productivity.

Since its enactment, NREGA has been implemented in phases across various states in India, and it continues to be an important social welfare program aimed at empowering rural communities and reducing poverty.