CAG Report Exposes Major Flaws in National Biopharma Mission

• CAG audit reveals weak governance, lack of transparency, and limited outcomes in the National Biopharma Mission despite significant funding.
• Serious hiring negligence: 39 out of 51 positions remained vacant, including the Mission Director for two years, and a consultant was hired without provision.
• Lack of transparency in contracts: Consultancy contracts were non-competitive, and 0.58 crore rupees were paid for International AIDS Vaccine Initiative office rent without provision.
• Fund allotment issues: 163.26 crore rupees allotted by nomination, not competition; 6.62 crore rupees in contracts awarded directly; grants released without fulfilling conditions.
• Limited results: 47.23 crore rupees unaudited, 8.38 crore rupees unrecovered from closed projects, and only 13 product launches claimed without concrete evidence.

Why It Matters: CAG report highlights critical governance, transparency, and outcome failures in the National Biopharma Mission.