In the Union Budget 2017–18, what was the proposed allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your awareness of key figures from the Union Budget 2017–18, specifically the allocation to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme, commonly known as MGNREGA. Budgetary allocations to major welfare schemes are frequently asked in exams related to the economy, banking and government schemes because they reflect policy priorities.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The year in question is the Union Budget for 2017–18.
• The scheme is MGNREGA, a flagship rural employment programme guaranteeing wage employment.
• Several approximate allocation amounts are offered as options, all in rupees crore.

Concept / Approach:
MGNREGA is one of the largest public works and rural employment schemes in India. In the 2017–18 Union Budget, the government made headlines by announcing the then highest ever allocation to MGNREGA. The amount was approximately Rs. 48,000 crore. Remembering such record allocations is useful because they are widely reported in the news and are therefore likely to appear in objective questions. The other figures in the options are distractors that could relate to earlier or later budgets or to other schemes.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that for 2017–18, the Finance Minister highlighted a record allocation to MGNREGA.Step 2: Remember the approximate amount of this record allocation, which was Rs. 48,000 crore.Step 3: Compare the figure with the options and identify option A as the one that matches.Step 4: Eliminate the other options as they do not correspond to the widely reported record allocation for that particular year.

Verification / Alternative check:
A practical way to verify is to think of round numbers used in government announcements. Often, for major schemes, the numbers are multiples of thousand or five thousand crores and are emphasised in budget speeches. Many summaries of the 2017–18 Budget mention MGNREGA allocation specifically as Rs. 48,000 crore, which confirms that option A is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B: Rs. 38,000 crore is lower than the announced record allocation and does not match the 2017–18 figure.Option C: Rs. 56,000 crore is higher than the mentioned amount and does not correspond to the official allocation for that budget year.Option D: Rs. 33,000 crore is too low and could be closer to earlier allocations, but not the 2017–18 record allocation.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates struggle with memorising exact rupee figures because there are numerous schemes and years to remember. A useful tip is to focus on a few major headlines for each Budget, such as record increases for specific schemes, new tax slabs, and key welfare announcements. Writing these down in a small table and revising them shortly before exams can reduce confusion and guessing errors.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Rs. 48,000 crore