**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2262 in the Lok Sabha, to be answered on December 12th, 2025. The question asked whether third-party audits or performance reviews have been conducted on urban missions focused on improving the health sector, and if so, the details. The answer confirms that such reviews have been conducted, and provides details of the evaluations by NITI Aayog and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Third-Party Evaluations of NUHM:**
* Several third-party evaluations of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) have been carried out over the past ten years.
* Independent institutions like NITI Aayog (DMEO) and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), as well as annual Common Review Missions conducted the evaluations.
* Evaluations covered infrastructure development, human resource deployment, fund utilisation, community processes, quality of care, and service delivery outcomes.
* **Evaluation by NITI Aayog:**
* NITI Aayog, through its DMEO, conducted independent third-party evaluations of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in India, including schemes related to the health sector.
* Evaluation was conducted in 2019-2021 and 2025-26.
* Reports were shared with the Department of Expenditure and respective line Ministries/Departments.
* The Evaluation Report including the Scheme Level Analysis of National Health Mission (NHM/ NUHM) are available on the DMEO website at https://dmeo.gov.in/evaluation.
* **Audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG):**
* The CAG has undertaken Performance Audits on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services in many States / Union Territories (UTs).
* These audits include performance and implementation aspects of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in those States/UTs.
* State/UT-specific reports are available on the respective CAG report websites.
* **Other Performance Reviews:**
* The Ministry also conducts performance reviews on a periodic basis through mechanisms like Common Review Mission (CRM) and monitoring visits.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:**
* **Impact:** Has received reports on the performance of urban health missions and specific centrally sponsored schemes related to health.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the findings to inform the rationalization of schemes and improve implementation.
**Department of Expenditure & Respective Line Ministries/Departments:**
* **Impact:** Recipient of evaluation reports from NITI Aayog (DMEO).
* **Action Required:** Review the reports, including the Scheme Level Analysis of National Health Mission (NHM/ NUHM), to inform decisions related to scheme rationalization and budgeting.
**States / Union Territories (UTs):**
* **Impact:** Their public health infrastructure and implementation of NUHM have been audited by the CAG.
* **Action Required:** Review the State/UT-specific reports available on the respective CAG report websites and take corrective actions based on the findings.
Key Entities Referenced
National Urban Health Mission (NUHM): A centrally sponsored scheme focused on improving healthcare in urban areas, subject to performance reviews and evaluations.
NITI Aayog: Independent institution conducting third-party evaluations of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), including those in the health sector, through its Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO).
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): An independent institution that has undertaken performance audits on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services which include performance and implementation aspects of NUHM in many States / Union Territories (UTs).
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government body responsible for health and family welfare, which conducts performance reviews through mechanisms like Common Review Missions (CRM).
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS): Schemes of the Government of India, including those related to the health sector, subject to third party evaluation.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH & FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2262
TOBE ANSWERED ON 12THDECEMBER 2025
PERFORMANCE REVIEWS ONHEALTH SECTOR
2262. SHRIBIPLAB KUMAR DEB:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether third-party audits or performance reviews have been conducted by independent
institutions such as NITI Aayog, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), etc., on urban
missions focused onimprovinghealthsector during the last tenyears; and
(b) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) and (b) : Yes, several third-party evaluations of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)
have been carried out over the past ten years by independent institutions, including NITI Aayog
(Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office), the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
and through annual Common Review Missions. These reviews have evaluated various
dimensions of NUHM, including infrastructure development, human resource deployment, fund
utilisation,community processes, qualityof care,andservice deliveryoutcomes.
The following third-party audits, performance reviews or evaluations have been undertaken for
the urbanmissions inIndia:
1. EvaluationbyNITI Aayog:
The NITI Aayog, through its Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office
(DMEO), conducted independent third-party evaluation of all Centrally Sponsored
Schemes (CSS) in India, which includes schemes related to the health sector. The
evaluation was conducted in a time-bound manner in 2019-2021 and then 2025-26 to
make the findings available to appropriate authorities for determining therationalisation of the schemes. The reports have been shared with the Department of
Expenditure and respective line Ministries/Departments for consideration.The
Evaluation Report including the Scheme Level Analysis of National Health Mission
(NHM/ NUHM) are available on the DMEO website at
https://dmeo.gov.in/evaluation.
2. Audits bythe ComptrollerandAuditor General (CAG) of India:
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India have undertaken Performance
Audits on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services in many
States / Union Territories (UTs). In these audits, the performance and implementation
aspects of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in those States/UTs have
been covered within the scope of these broader Public Health Performance Audits.
These State/UT-specific reportsare availableonthe respective CAG report websites.
3. Besides, performance reviews have also been conducted on periodic basis by the
Ministry through mechanisms like Common Review Mission (CRM), Monitoring
visits etc.
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