Flash Report on Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above

1. At a Glance

• MoSPI publishes a monthly Flash Report monitoring all Central Sector Infrastructure Projects costing ₹150 crore and above, now hosted on the new PAIMANA portal [1][2].
• PAIMANA = Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building; replaces the legacy OCMS-2006 (Online Computerized Monitoring System) [1].
• UPSC relevance: tests knowledge of governance, infrastructure monitoring, fiscal discipline (cost & time overruns), and "one data, one entry" digital governance [1].

2. Why in the News

• On 29 January 2026, PIB announced operationalisation of PAIMANA by MoSPI for mandated monitoring of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects ≥ ₹150 crore [1].
• Portal was officially launched on 25 September 2025; monthly flash reports through PAIMANA have been published from July 2025 onwards [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• Monitoring mandate originally executed via OCMS-2006 under MoSPI [1].
• Driving rationale: real-time tracking of mega/major Central Sector projects to curb time & cost overruns [2].
• 2025: PAIMANA built as a web-based replacement, integrated via APIs with DPIIT's Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP / IIG-PMG) under the "one data, one entry" principle — ~60% of projects update automatically [1][2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) [1].
• Integration partner: DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) — IPMP/IIG-PMG [1].
• Monitoring threshold: Central Sector Infrastructure Projects ≥ ₹150 crore [1].
• As of January 2026: 1,702 ongoing projects; 17 Central Ministries/Departments; original cost ₹33.71 lakh crore; cumulative expenditure ₹20.01 lakh crore [2].
• Project classification:
• Mega projects (≥ ₹1,000 cr): 695 projects, revised cost ₹29 lakh crore [2].

• Major projects (≥ ₹150 cr and < ₹1,000 cr): 1,007 projects, ₹4.72 lakh crore [2].

• Public dashboard: ipm.mospi.gov.in [2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Economic: Tracks ~₹33.71 lakh crore of capex pipeline; early flagging of overruns protects fiscal space and supports the capex-led growth push in Budget 2026-27 [2].
• Administrative: API integration with DPIIT's IPMP eliminates duplicate data entry by line ministries — "one data, one entry" reduces compliance burden [1].
• Scientific/Technological: Replaces a legacy 2006 system with analytics-driven monitoring (assessment, analytics, dashboards) — moves from reporting to predictive oversight [1].
• Ethical/Governance: Enhances transparency (public dashboard), accountability of executing ministries, and cooperative federalism in centrally-funded infrastructure delivery [1][2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• July 2025 — first PAIMANA-based flash report published [2].
• 25 September 2025 — official launch of PAIMANA portal [2].
• 29 January 2026 — PIB statement formalising PAIMANA as replacement for OCMS-2006 [1].
• January 2026 flash report — coverage of 1,702 projects across 17 ministries [2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PAIMANA stands for Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building [1].
• Parent ministry: MoSPI (not Finance, not DPIIT) [1].
• Threshold for monitoring: ₹150 crore and above [1].
• PAIMANA replaces OCMS-2006 [1].
• Integrated with DPIIT's IPMP / IIG-PMG via APIs [1].
• Guiding principle: "one data, one entry" [1].
• Portal launched 25 September 2025 [2].
• January 2026 universe: 1,702 projects, 17 Ministries/Departments [2].
• Original cost ₹33.71 lakh cr; cumulative expenditure ₹20.01 lakh cr [2].
• Mega project definition: ≥ ₹1,000 crore; Major project: ₹150 cr to <₹1,000 cr [2].
• Number of mega projects: 695; major projects: 1,007 [2].
• Public dashboard URL: ipm.mospi.gov.in [2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II — Governance: e-governance, transparency, accountability in public project monitoring.
• GS-III — Indian Economy / Infrastructure: Investment models, time & cost overruns in public projects, capex-led growth.
• Possible question stems:
• "Time and cost overruns remain the Achilles' heel of India's public infrastructure delivery. Examine how digital monitoring platforms like PAIMANA can address this." (GS-III)
• "Discuss the significance of the 'one data, one entry' principle in inter-ministerial digital governance, with reference to PAIMANA-IPMP integration." (GS-II)
• "Evaluate the role of MoSPI in promoting evidence-based infrastructure governance in India." (GS-II/III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• DPIIT's IPMP / IIG-PMG (PRAGATI ecosystem) — sister monitoring platform [1].
• PM GatiShakti National Master Plan — multi-modal infra coordination.
• National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) — ₹111 lakh crore pipeline tracked separately.
• PRAGATI platform (PMO) — apex grievance & project review mechanism.
• MoSPI's NSO / MPLADS — other MoSPI mandates.
• Capital Expenditure (Budget 2026-27) — fiscal context for infra push [3].
• Public Investment Board (PIB) & DEA appraisal — project approval stage upstream of monitoring.
• CAG performance audits on cost & time overruns — accountability layer.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: PAIMANA is under MoSPI, NOT DPIIT/Ministry of Finance/MoRTH [1].
• Threshold confusion: monitoring is for ≥ ₹150 crore, not ₹100 cr or ₹1,000 cr (₹1,000 cr is the "Mega" sub-category) [2].
• Predecessor: it replaces OCMS-2006, not the IPMP (IPMP is the DPIIT integration partner, not a predecessor) [1].
• Launch year: portal launched 2025, not 2026 — only the January 2026 flash report is the news hook [2].
• Don't confuse with PRAGATI (PMO-led) or PM GatiShakti (DPIIT-led) — different mandates [3].