The government's flagship initiatives have barely spent any of the money allocated to them, a parliamentary committee has reported, raising questions about the on-the-ground implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most high profile national programs. Although the government insists the figures are wrong, a report from the parliamentary standing committee on urban development said Modi’s six top infrastructure initiatives spent on average just 21 per cent, or $1.2 billion, of the $5.6 billion allocated. India’s "Smart Cities" program, which Modi has championed, used just 1.8 per cent of the funds released to it, the committee said, or just $28 million of a dedicated $1.5 billion. Other programs like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Swachch Bharat, used less than 30 per cent of the available funds, the report said.

The government's flagship initiatives have barely spent any of the money allocated to them, a parliamentary committee has reported, raising questions about the on-the-ground implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most high profile national programs. Although the government insists the figures are wrong, a report from the parliamentary standing committee on urban development said Modi’s six top infrastructure initiatives spent on average just 21 per cent, or $1.2 billion, of the $5.6 billion allocated. India’s "Smart Cities" program, which Modi has championed, used just 1.8 per cent of the funds released to it, the committee said, or just $28 million of a dedicated $1.5 billion. Other programs like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Swachch Bharat, used less than 30 per cent of the available funds, the report said.