Mon Mar 31 16:52:27 UTC 2025: ## Tourism Ministry Criticized for Chronic Underutilization of Funds
**New Delhi, March 31, 2025** – A Parliamentary Standing Committee has sharply criticized the Union Tourism Ministry for its consistent failure to utilize allocated funds, citing a “chronic” pattern of underperformance. The committee’s report, submitted to the Rajya Sabha, reveals that only 33.4% of the ₹2,400 crore budget allocated for 2023-24 was utilized, with a similarly dismal performance in 2024-25 (only ₹396.82 crore out of ₹2,479.62 crore utilized).
The committee dismissed the Ministry’s explanations of administrative bottlenecks and coordination challenges as inadequate, attributing the underutilization to deep-rooted systemic inefficiencies. To address this, the report recommends the implementation of an Integrated Digital Project Management System (IDPMS) to streamline project management from proposal to completion. This system would include real-time dashboards for transparency and accountability.
Further, the committee proposes a Tourism Implementation Rating System (TIRS) to rank states based on their project implementation efficiency and fund utilization. High-performing states would receive incentives, including priority funding and relaxed procedures, fostering competition and improving overall performance. The committee’s findings highlight a significant impediment to the growth of India’s tourism sector and underscore the need for urgent reform.
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