CAG audit flags major gaps in Green India Mission implementation
The audit attributed the shortcomings to several factors, including inadequate convergence with other programmes, insufficient funding, deficiencies in planning and weak monitoring mechanisms
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Context
The has released an audit report highlighting severe shortcomings in the implementation of the , citing massive target shortfalls, funding deficits, and poor convergence with other schemes between 2015-16 and 2024-25. The mission recorded a staggering 91.87% shortfall in improving forest cover quality and a 97.57% shortfall in increasing forest cover area against its targets.
UPSC Perspectives
Environmental
The is one of the eight core missions under the . Launched to protect, restore, and enhance India's declining forest cover, the mission is crucial for fulfilling India's under the , specifically the target to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030. The massive shortfalls flagged by the —achieving only a fraction of its 1.4 million hectare targets for both quality improvement and area expansion—seriously jeopardize these international climate commitments. For UPSC mains, this highlights the gap between ambitious climate pledges and on-ground implementation, emphasizing the need for robust institutional mechanisms to achieve sustainable environmental change and combat climate change effectively.
Governance
The , mandated under of the Constitution, acts as the guardian of the public purse and ensures executive accountability. This report underscores significant governance deficits in scheme implementation, particularly the failure of convergence (integrating multiple schemes to maximize resources). The audit revealed that GIM operated in silos, failing to synergize with schemes like , , and the . This lack of inter-departmental coordination, combined with weak monitoring mechanisms and poor financial controls (like unmaintained or unaudited annual accounts by states), points to structural weaknesses in cooperative federalism and administrative efficiency. UPSC aspirants should note this as a prime example of implementation failure where fragmented governance undermines scheme objectives.
Economic
A critical issue flagged by the audit is the chronic underfunding and poor financial management of the mission. Against a proposed funding requirement of ₹10,600 crore, and an approved budget of ₹2,400 crore for the initial four years, the mission received only ₹1,149.14 crore (47.88%) over ten years. This highlights the challenge of fiscal constraints in environmental financing. Furthermore, the lack of convergence with well-funded schemes like and meant that potential parallel funding streams were not leveraged. This failure not only stalled afforestation efforts but also impacted the mission's objective of enhancing forest-based livelihoods, which is vital for rural economic resilience. This illustrates the critical link between adequate, targeted public finance, effective fund utilization, and the realization of both ecological and economic goals.