CAG audit reveals almost total miss on Green India Mission forest targets

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has flagged serious deficiencies in the Green India Mission, which was intended to expand the country's forest cover between 2015-16 and 2024-25. According to the audit, the actual rise in forested area was about 98% below the target set for the decade. The report points to poor project planning and lax financial oversight as core reasons for the failure.

Additionally, the audit found that several high-risk zones were omitted from planting activities, weakening the program’s contribution to climate change mitigation. The findings call into question the effectiveness of the mission’s implementation framework. The CAG’s observations come as India seeks to meet its international environmental commitments.