# CAG finds Green India Mission achieved only 2% of forest cover target

2026-08-14T05:45:48+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

India's Green India Mission (GIM) achieved only 0.034 million hectares of forest cover against a 1.4 million hectare target, a 97.57% shortfall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported in Parliament on August 12. The audit, covering 16 states and UTs from 2015-16 to 2024-25, found a 91.87% shortfall in improving forest quality. Only Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh measured carbon sequestration. The CAG blamed poor financial planning and a failure to align the mission with existing schemes such as CAMPA and MGNREGS. The mission received only ₹1,149 crore against an approved outlay of ₹2,400 crore, and the environment ministry did not approve any of the 68 state Annual Plans of Operation on time. Vulnerability criteria were also overlooked in selecting landscapes.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/shortfall-in-green-india-mission-due-to-poor-financial-planning-cag-report-101786648814940.html>
- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/green-india-mission-fell-short-by-98-in-increasing-forest-cover-cag-11912065>

Tags: afforestation, CAG, climate change, Environment Ministry, forest cover, Green India Mission
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