The Himachal Pradesh Rural Development Department has announced a key amendment to the selection criteria for families living below the poverty line (BPL), aiming to broaden eligibility and ensure greater inclusivity. Under the revised guidelines dated 4th February 2026, families in which all adult members have completed at least 50 days of work under MGNREGA in the previous financial year will now qualify for inclusion.
A department spokesperson stated that this amendment applies to both ongoing applications from Phase-I to Phase-IV and new applications submitted by the extended deadline of 12th March 2026. After completing the verification process, the Block Level Committee will release the final Phase-V list by 15th March 2026.
The spokesperson clarified that all actions, approvals, and lists from the first four phases remain unchanged and valid. Other procedural aspects, including verification, appeals, and record maintenance, will continue as per the provisions outlined in the letter dated 19th March 2025. This step reflects the state government’s effort to make the BPL selection process more inclusive and aligned with employment under MGNREGA.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
