Salient features of the Act are summarized below :-

1.Registration

• Adult members of a rural household willing to do unskilled manual work, may apply for registration either in writing, or orally to the local Gram Panchayat.
• The unit for registration is a household and each household is entitled to a 100 days of employment every year.

2.Job Card

• After due verification of place of residence and age of the members only adult members are eligible for employment,the registered household is issued a Job Card JC.
• A Job Card is to be issued within 15 days of registration. Job Card forms the basis of identification for demanding employment.

3.Application for Work

• A written application seeking work is to be made to the Gram Panchayat or Block Office, stating the time and duration for which work is sought.
• The Gram Panchayat will issue a dated receipt of the written application for employment, against which the guarantee of providing employment within 15 days operates.

4.Unemployment allowance

• In case employment is not provided within 15 days, the state as per the Act will pay an unemployment allowance to the beneficiary.

5.Provision and Execution of Work

• Work is provided within 5 kilometres radius of the village.
• In case, work is provided beyond 5 kms,extra wages of 10 per cent are payable to meet additional transportation and living expenses.
• Priority is awarded to women, such that at least one third of the beneficiaries under the Scheme are women.
• Contractors and use of labor displacing machinery are prohibited.
• Work site facilities such as crèche, drinking water, shade have to be provided.

6.Wages

• Wages are to be paid as per the State wise Government of India GOI notified MGNREGA wages.
• Payment of wages is mandatory done through bank post office beneficiary accounts.