CAG Audit Exposes Major Failure in Green India Mission

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Key takeaways

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) performance audit of the Green India Mission (GIM) revealed a 98% shortfall in expanding forest cover between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
Out of the target to expand forest cover over 1.4 million hectares, actual progress was achieved across only 0.03 million hectares.
Improvement in forest quality suffered a 92% shortfall, reaching only 0.11 million hectares against the 1.4 million hectares target.
GIS satellite analysis showed no noticeable change attributable to the mission at 70% of the sampled sites, with 14 states failing to provide public monitoring links.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) published a critical performance audit report on the Green India Mission (GIM). This report highlights severe execution failures and reveals a 98% shortfall in achieving forest-expansion goals between 2015-16 and 2024-25.

The CAG evaluated four core areas of the scheme: planning, execution, fund management, and tracking across 16 states and union territories for the 2015-16 to 2024-25 period.
The audit carefully assessed four major goals: expanding total tree cover, improving overall forest health, enhancing nature services, and generating income options for local communities.

The scheme recorded a 98% shortfall in expanding forest cover, achieving growth in only 0.03 million hectares against the target of 1.4 million hectares.
Efforts to upgrade existing forest quality suffered a 92% deficit, improving health across merely 0.11 million hectares compared to the target of 1.4 million hectares.
Authorities chose locations poorly by selecting regions with low climate risk rather than prioritizing high-risk vulnerable landscapes.
Investigators uncovered significant operational flaws including poor financial control, lack of coordination between government departments, and missing operational blueprints.
A total of 14 states failed to share public monitoring web links, and satellite GIS checks revealed zero progress at 70% of inspected locations alongside exaggerated official records.

Failed tree planting campaigns directly harm national climate goals, reducing nature ability to absorb carbon emissions and protect native wildlife.
Flawed tracking systems and distorted data damage public trust, proving that government money spent on environment protection is being wasted without measurable outcomes.
Neglecting degraded forest ecosystems directly threatens local tribal populations who rely on forest produce for daily income and shelter.