NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi met finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday and is understood to have discussed proposals relating to the Budget such as an added thrust to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).

It is understood that he also shared with Mukherjee his views on the food security Bill, social welfare for tribals and youth. It was on Gandhi's urging that the rural guarantee scheme was made nationwide. He has previously highlighted the need for special packages for distressed areas.