The Center on Monday did not provide any clarification on the delay in the launch of the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM), as the scheme has not seen any spending two years after its announcement, during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha.
Although the scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, no expenditure was recorded during the two financial years ending on Tuesday, according to the disclosure. The budget allocations for the mission were also reduced to $300 crore for 2026-27 from $1,150 crore in 2024–25, while $Rs 1,250 crore was allocated in the previous year.
The centrally sponsored scheme aims to enable “effective citizen-centred governance, increased ease of living, optimal use of technology and data-driven governance.”
In a written reply to Trinamool Congress MP, Derek O’Brien, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tukkan Sahu, said the revised outlines of the scheme are under discussion with stakeholders in the ministry (MoHUA).
A report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, submitted on March 12, flagged concerns about delays in finalizing such schemes. The announcement of schemes, allocation of budget allocations and operation of pilot projects for indefinite periods without legal approval and clearly communicated guidelines lead to uncertainty in implementation, underutilization of funds, frequent revisions in budget estimates and lack of accountability in results, she noted, citing the long gestation period of NUDM.
“Proposals such as NUDM, DJAY-S, Industrial Housing/PM-NIWAS and Municipal Bonds, which are currently under consideration for approval, should be presented to the Cabinet/EFC as soon as possible, with a clearly defined timeline for their commissioning,” the committee recommended.
She also said that pilot initiatives should have clearly defined objectives, frameworks and evaluation conditions, and what they learned should be formally incorporated into the final design of the scheme before scaling up.
