The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was introduced in 2005 with the objective of providing guaranteed employment to the rural poor. Its contribution to the development of rural India is as follows:

• Creation of employment: NREGA has helped to create job opportunities for the rural poor, which has assisted in reducing their poverty levels and uplifting their standard of living.
• Assets creation: The Act focuses on creation of durable productive assets, such as water harvesting structures, soil conservation works, and rural infrastructure.
• Women Empowerment: NREGA has played a significant role in the empowerment of women by providing job opportunities and ensuring that they receive equal wages for equal work.
• Rural infrastructure: NREGA has contributed to the development of rural infrastructure as new roads, irrigation facilities and sanitation facilities have been constructed under NREGA.
• Wage increase: NREGA has helped in increasing wage rate in the rural areas, which in return have a positive impact on the overall economy of the region.

Therefore, NREGA has contributed significantly to the economic development of rural India by creating employment, building durable infrastructure assets, empowering women, and increasing wages, among other things.