Amendments to BPL selection criteria and extension of Phase-V survey applications

SHIMLA 07 March, 2026

In a significant move to liberalize the inclusion criteria for families living below the poverty line, the department has announced a key amendment to the BPL guidelines dated 4th February 2026.

A spokesperson of the rural development department in a communiqué here today stated that under the revised Para (iv), families where all adult members have completed at least 50 days of work under MGNREGA in the previous financial year are now eligible for inclusion. This amendment integrates with the ongoing selection process, ensuring that applications received during Phase-I to Phase-IV, as well as fresh applications submitted by the deadline of March 12, 2026, will be considered under these updated categories.

Following the completion of the verification process, the Block Level Committee will notify and publish the final list for Phase-V (Fifth Phase) by March 15, 2026. He further said that all actions, lists and decisions finalized during the first four phases remain unchanged and fully valid. Apart from the revised inclusion-exclusion criteria specifically for Phase-V, all other procedural aspects regarding verification, approval, appeals and record maintenance will continue to be governed by the provisions laid out in the letter dated March 19, 2025.