PAC grills Union government over ₹13 crore mismatched payments and 40.75 lakh scholarship delays
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Education policy· Prelims + Mains·
Audit oversight and fiscal accountability in social welfare schemes: a GS2 and GS3 case study.
Why in news
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) grilled the Union government over the CAG's 2025 report highlighting scholarship discrepancies and delays for 40.75 lakh beneficiaries.
Background
The PAC, led by K.C. Venugopal, is investigating a ₹13 crore mismatched payment in Haryana and delays affecting 40.75 lakh scholarship beneficiaries. The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry must submit reports on fraud markers and these discrepancies within one month.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyComptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG): The constitutional authority responsible for auditing the accounts of the Union and State governments.
- FactThe CAG's 2025 report identified ₹13 crore in mismatched payments specifically in Haryana.
- FactThe report highlights scholarship delays affecting 40.75 lakh beneficiaries.
Prelims practice question
With reference to the CAG's 2025 report on scholarship discrepancies, consider the following statements:
- The report highlights scholarship delays affecting 10 lakh beneficiaries.
- The report identified ₹13 crore in mismatched payments specifically in Haryana.
- The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry was given six months to submit reports on fraud markers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)2 only
- (b)3 only
- (c)1 and 2 only
- (d)1 and 3 only
Show answer
Answer: (a) 2 only — Statement 2 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The report highlights delays affecting 40.75 lakh beneficiaries. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ministry must submit reports within one month.
For Mains
Q. Examine the role of the CAG and Public Accounts Committee in ensuring fiscal accountability and the effective delivery of social welfare schemes in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Audit-Action Gap: Delays in rectifying CAG observations regarding scholarship fraud and mismatched payments.
- Administrative Bottlenecks: Inefficient state-level scholarship distribution mechanisms leading to beneficiary exclusion.
- Transparency Deficit: Lack of robust fraud markers in the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry's scholarship portal.
Keywords: Fiscal Accountability · Social Welfare · Audit Oversight · Administrative Transparency · Public Expenditure
More Social Justice notes
- Kerala Cabinet raises CMDRF family income limit from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh · 16 October 2026
- India ranks 100th in Global Hunger Index 2026 with "serious" score of 24.1 · 16 October 2026
- Govt aims for 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2047 at National Saras Mela · 15 October 2026
- Central Government approves ₹379.29 crore for Telangana medical colleges and 465 new PG seats · 15 October 2026
- Andhra Pradesh to inaugurate 264 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs costing ₹103.16 crore · 15 October 2026
- 24 central universities including BHU, Jamia Millia Islamia face salary delays · 15 October 2026
Something wrong, or something missing?
Spotted a mistake in a note, or want a topic, format or PDF that would help your preparation? Write to us. We read every mail and fix errors fast.
This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.