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31 July 2026

Transparency concerns regarding PM CARES Fund

The PM CARES Fund is a specific, named entity that serves as a recurring case study for debates on transparency, accountability, and the limits of RTI and CAG oversight in Indian governance.

1 min read Day 1 of 2 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • PM CARES Fund established in March 2020 as a public charitable trust for relief during public health emergencies and disasters.
  • Fund is chaired by the Prime Minister and relies on voluntary contributions.
  • Financial transparency: Audited statements for FY 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 are available on the official website.
  • Status as of March 31, 2023: Opening balance of ₹5,415.65 crore, total receipts of ₹6,723.07 crore, total payments of ₹439.38 crore, and closing balance of ₹6,283.68 crore.
  • No audited financial statements have been made public for the period following FY 2022-23.
  • Legal status: The government maintains the fund is not a 'public authority' under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
  • Current oversight: The fund is currently outside the ambit of the RTI Act, parliamentary scrutiny, and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG).

Part of a longer story

This is day 1 of 2 in PM CARES Fund financial transparency and accountability, which has been running since 31 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the significance of transparency and accountability in the management of public charitable trusts established for emergency relief. How does the 'public authority' definition under the RTI Act impact the oversight of such funds? 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Examine the institutional mechanisms required to ensure financial transparency in funds created for disaster management. Analyze the challenges in balancing the autonomy of charitable trusts with the constitutional mandate for public accountability and audit oversight. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which of the following bodies is currently responsible for the mandatory audit of the PM CARES Fund?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-31/transparency-concerns-regarding-pm-cares-fund