CAG finds National BioPharma Mission failed to implement most recommendations

This audit examined the compliance of transactions for seven Scientific and Environmental Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, along with their autonomous bodies and Central Public Sector Enterprises, for the financial year ending March 2023.

Who it concerns: Seven Scientific and Environmental Ministries/Departments (including Department of Space, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Atomic Energy) and their associated autonomous bodies and CPSEs.

What the auditor found

• ₹5.46 crore grant released without adhering to stipulated timelines in grant-aid agreements (National BioPharma Mission).
• ₹1.43 crore remained unspent for over five years due to unmet objectives at the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research.
• ₹0.78 crore unproductive expenditure on a submersible prototype that was never demonstrated (Central Institute of Offshore Engineering & Technology).
• ₹1.14 crore excess water charges paid due to non-installation of rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling facilities (CSIR-NPL).
• ₹1.58 crore penalty paid for unauthorized occupation of land without permits (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services).
• ₹7.28 crore meteorological/legal fees not recovered from Nanded Airport/IRB Nanded Airport due to lack of MoA/contract interpretation.
• ₹0.73 crore excess payment due to incorrect contract demand evaluation (Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology).
• ₹0.66 crore clean room facility remained unused for over five years due to delayed commissioning (Bose Institute).
• ₹8.92 crore unauthorized extra salary increment paid to employees of NPCIL/BHEL between 2013 and 2017.
• ₹0.56 crore insurance claim rejected for damaged equipment at Madras Unit, Cheyyani due to lack of proper premium payment.

Also in the document

• CAG found that the National BioPharma Mission failed to implement most recommendations from its Mission Operations Committee, leading to delays and limited project selection.
• CAG reported that the Indian Institute of Wildlife (WL) had not prepared a survey plan seven years after assuring the CAG, resulting in 77 percent of samples from the last five years remaining unknown and a lack of basic infrastructure for species conservation.
• CAG noted that the Integrated Information System (IIS) Group B module at the Heavy Water Board was not used until September 2023, two years after its go-live date, indicating a failure to achieve the system's main objectives.