Overview Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 , accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of spreading falsehoods regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) . The accusation stems from alleged inaction against the central government's policies that are perceived to weaken the scheme. Key Developments Accusation: M.K. Stalin accuses E.K. Palaniswami of defending the BJP government's actions concerning MGNREGS . MGNREGS Concerns: The Chief Minister raises concerns about the effective implementation of the scheme, particularly regarding wage payment delays and the reduction of guaranteed workdays. Financial Burden: Allegations are made that the Union government is shifting 40% of the financial burden of MGNREGS onto State governments. Analysis of Statements M.K. Stalin highlighted that even the legally guaranteed 100 days of work under MGNREGS were not properly implemented by the BJP government, leading to wage payment delays. He questioned the feasibility of providing 125 days of work under the new scheme conditions, suggesting the Union government is shirking its responsibility. Stalin criticized Palaniswami for allegedly claiming to have influenced the central government to retain Mahatma Gandhi's name in the scheme, while simultaneously failing to prevent the shifting of financial burdens to the states. He accuses Palaniswami of defending the BJP government's actions, which he believes undermine MGNREGS . UPSC Relevance GS2: Government Policies and Schemes This news is relevant to GS2 as it discusses the implementation and potential dilution of a major government scheme, MGNREGS . Understanding the challenges and political dynamics surrounding such schemes is crucial for the exam. GS3: Economy The discussion on the financial burden sharing between the Union and State governments relates to fiscal federalism, a key topic in GS3 . The effectiveness of MGNREGS in poverty alleviation and rural employment also falls under this category. Important Facts MGNREGS Guarantee: Originally guaranteed 100 days of work per year. Financial Shift: Alleged shift of 40% of financial burden to states. Political Figures: Key figures mentioned are M.K. Stalin and Edappadi K. Palaniswami .