Education Ministry Bodies Left ₹4,553 Crore in Grants Unspent, CAG Report Reveals

New Delhi, AUGUST 17, 2026: Central autonomous bodies (CABs) under India’s Ministry of Education did not utilise ₹4,553.85 crore in grants during 2022–23, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

Ministry records highest share of unused grants

The findings place the Ministry of Education at the top of the list of Central ministries and departments in terms of unutilised grants. The CAG’s report on the non-utilisation of funds was tabled in Parliament on August 12.

The figures have raised questions about the management and utilisation of public funds allocated to institutions responsible for supporting India’s education and higher education systems.

Education Ministry received nearly half of all grants

According to the CAG report, Central autonomous bodies received a total of ₹1,13,012 crore in grants during 2022–23. The Ministry of Education accounted for the largest share, with 48.43 per cent of the total.

Of the ₹54,732.16 crore released to autonomous bodies under the Education Ministry, ₹4,553.85 crore was reported as unutilised by the end of the financial year.

The unspent amount represents 33.82 per cent of the total unutilised grants across Central ministries and departments. Overall, ₹12,464.22 crore in grants remained unused at the end of 2022–23.

The Ministry of Education currently oversees 198 Central autonomous bodies, making the effective utilisation of funds particularly significant for the delivery of educational programmes and institutional development.

CAG flags concerns over accreditation

The audit also raised concerns about the functioning of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), particularly its coverage of eligible higher education institutions.

The CAG noted that, as of March 2022, only 31.92 per cent of higher educational institutions had been accredited. It further found that 56.26 per cent of universities and 76.22 per cent of colleges that were eligible for accreditation had not been accredited.

The findings highlight a significant gap in the country’s quality assurance system at a time when accreditation is increasingly important for assessing institutional standards and improving accountability in higher education.

Irregular reimbursements identified

The report also pointed to financial irregularities involving several prominent educational institutions.

The Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar, IIT Guwahati and IIT Bombay were found to have reimbursed faculty members for purchases including notebooks, laptops, desktops and tablets through the Cumulative Professional Development Allowance between 2016 and 2023.

According to the audit findings, such purchases were not permitted under the applicable regulations governing the allowance.

The CAG’s observations indicate the need for institutions to ensure that financial benefits and allowances are used strictly within prescribed rules.

Loss reported at Central University of Kashmir

Another irregularity was identified at the Central University of Kashmir in Ganderbal.

The university was found to have irregularly reimbursed leave encashment to its hiring agencies, resulting in a reported loss of ₹76.31 lakh.

The findings add to wider concerns over financial oversight within autonomous educational institutions and the need for stronger internal controls.

Questions over effective use of public money

The CAG findings underline the importance of ensuring that public grants reach their intended purposes and are utilised within the relevant financial year.

For the Ministry of Education, which oversees nearly 200 autonomous bodies, improving financial monitoring and institutional accountability could help ensure that allocated resources translate into tangible benefits for students, teachers and educational institutions.

The report also highlights the importance of addressing long-standing gaps in accreditation and compliance. With substantial public funding channelled towards education, effective utilisation and transparent financial management remain essential to strengthening India’s higher education system.

Courtesy : The Wire

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