Beyond Tree Counting: Unpacking the CAG's Scrutiny of India's Green India Mission and its Environmental Policy Implications

What is the Green India Mission (GIM) and its original objectives?

The Green India Mission (GIM) was launched as one of the eight core missions under India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which was unveiled in 2008. Its primary objective was not merely to increase tree numbers but to undertake a holistic restoration of India's forest ecosystems. The mission's animating idea was ecological, focusing on enhancing biodiversity, improving water regimes, increasing carbon sequestration, and reviving critical habitats (Source: The Hindu Editorial, August 18, 2026). Specifically, GIM aimed to improve the quality of forest cover over 1.4 million hectares and expand forest cover, thereby contributing to India's commitment under the Paris Agreement of 2015 to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tonnes by 2030.

What are the key findings of the CAG's performance audit?

A recent performance audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has critically assessed the implementation of the Green India Mission over the past decade. The audit found that GIM had largely failed to achieve its stated objectives. Instead of improving forest quality over the targeted 1.4 million hectares, the mission managed to cover only 0.11 million hectares, which constitutes less than a tenth of its original target (Source: The Hindu Editorial, August 18, 2026). Furthermore, on the objective of expanding overall forest cover, the mission achieved a mere four per cent of its goal (Source: The Hindu Editorial, August 18, 2026).

The CAG's report also highlighted a lack of convergence between GIM and other crucial afforestation funding mechanisms. For instance, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) channels funds collected from industries for diverting forest land. Similarly, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), through initiatives like VB-G RAM G, funds rural wage labour for plantation and land-restoration works. Both were intended to converge with GIM. However, this intended synergy never materialised, leading to fragmented efforts and suboptimal resource utilisation (Source: The Hindu Editorial, August 18, 2026).