Guwahati, Aug. 14 -- The Green India Mission has achieved only a fraction of its targeted expansion in forest cover, falling 97.57% short of the goal set under the programme, according to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in Parliament on August 13.

The audit found that the mission increased forest cover across only 0.03409 million hectares against the target of 1.4 million hectares during the period under review.

The CAG examined the implementation of the Environment Ministry's Green India Mission in 16 states and Union Territories between 2015-16 and 2024-25. The scheme seeks to increase forest and tree cover, strengthen ecosystem services, and support livelihoods dependent on forests.

According to the audit, inad...