evidence: Since the implementation of DBT in MGNREGA, the timely payment of wages has increased reportedly from 37% in 2015-16 to 98% in 2020-21. However, according to an independent assessment of payment transactions in the first two quarters of 2017-18 across 10 Indian states, only 32% of wage payments were made within the stipulated period of 15 days, as compared to the government’s claim of 85%. This is because the government only considers delays caused under Stage 1 processes. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has acknowledged this flaw in the calculation. It has attributed the delays in Stage 2 to "infrastructural bottlenecks, unavailability of funds, and a lack of administrative compliance."