Flash Report on Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above
1. At a Glance
- Flash Report (FR) is a monthly publication by Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) tracking time and cost overruns of all Central Sector infrastructure projects costing ₹150 crore and above [S1][S2].
- From July 2025, the report is web-generated via the new PAIMANA portal (Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building), which replaced OCMS-2006 [S1][S3].
- UPSC relevance: classic GS-III "infrastructure & investment" topic — directly testable on portal names, monitoring threshold, ministry, and overrun trends.
2. Why in the News
- 25 Feb 2026: PIB release announcing PAIMANA portal operationalisation by MoSPI, replacing OCMS-2006 [S1].
- February 2026 Flash Report (No. 484) showed 1,948 ongoing projects with cumulative cost overrun of ₹5.66 lakh crore [S2][S4].
- API integration with DPIIT's IPMP/IIG-PMG under the "one data, one entry" principle is being highlighted as a governance reform [S1].
3. Background & Evolution
- Monitoring of major Central Sector projects began under MoSPI's Infrastructure & Project Monitoring Division (IPMD) [S3].
- Earlier threshold was ₹20 crore, later raised to ₹150 crore to focus on mega-projects.
- OCMS-2006 was the legacy Online Computerized Monitoring System — used for nearly two decades [S1].
- July 2025: First web-generated Flash Report via PAIMANA released [S1].
- Feb 2026: PAIMANA fully operational, integrated with DPIIT portal; ~60% of projects auto-updated via API [S1].
4. Core Static Facts
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) [S1].
- Division: Infrastructure & Project Monitoring Division (IPMD) [S3].
- Threshold: Central Sector projects costing ₹150 crore and above [S1].
- Portal: PAIMANA — Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building [S1].
- Replaced: OCMS-2006 [S1].
- Integrated with: DPIIT's Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP / IIG-PMG) via APIs [S1].
- Publications: Monthly Flash Report (FR) + Quarterly Project Implementation Status Report (QPISR) [S1].
- Coverage (Feb 2026): 1,948 projects, 17 Central Ministries/Departments, revised cost ₹41.98 lakh crore vs original ₹36.32 lakh crore [S2].
- Sectors: Roads, Railways, Urban Development, Power, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Coal, Ports & Shipping, Water Resources, Civil Aviation, Telecom, etc. [S2].
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Economic
- Cumulative cost overrun of ₹5.66 lakh crore (~15.6% over original) signals chronic capex inefficiency [S2].
- Original cost ₹36.32 lakh crore vs revised ₹41.98 lakh crore — direct fiscal stress on Centre's capex push [S2].
- Roads & Highways dominate additions: 258 of 268 new projects in Feb 2026 were from MoRTH [S2].
Administrative / Governance
- "One data, one entry" principle reduces duplication between Ministries' IPMP entries and MoSPI's monitoring [S1].
- ~60% of projects auto-updated via API integration — a Digital India outcome [S1].
- Web-based dashboards enable real-time tracking by 17 line ministries [S1].
Scientific / Technological
- API-driven data exchange between PAIMANA and IPMP/IIG-PMG [S1].
- Analytics layer enables sector-wise and ministry-wise overrun visualisation [S3].
Ethical / Transparency
- Public monthly Flash Reports hosted at ipm.mospi.gov.in promote accountability [S1].
- QR-coded PDFs ensure citizen accessibility [S2].
6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
- July 2025: First web-generated Flash Report via PAIMANA [S1].
- Dec 2025: Flash Report No. 482 published [S5 implied via series numbering].
- Jan 2026: PAIMANA captured 1,702 projects, original cost ₹33.71 lakh crore, cumulative expenditure ₹20.01 lakh crore [S5].
- Feb 2026: Coverage expanded to 1,948 projects; 268 new projects added (258 MoRTH, 6 MoPNG, 2 each from DoWR-RD-GR and Coal) [S2].
- 25 Feb 2026: PIB release formalising PAIMANA operationalisation [S1].
7. Prelims Hooks
- PAIMANA full form: Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building [S1].
- Launched by: MoSPI (NOT DPIIT, NOT NITI Aayog) [S1].
- Replaces: OCMS-2006 [S1].
- Monitoring threshold: ₹150 crore and above (Central Sector only) [S1].
- Integrated with DPIIT's IPMP / IIG-PMG via APIs [S1].
- Guiding principle: "One data, one entry" [S1].
- Publication frequency: Monthly Flash Report + Quarterly QPISR [S1].
- First web-generated Flash Report: July 2025 [S1].
- Jan 2026 coverage: 1,702 projects, 17 ministries, original cost ₹33.71 lakh crore [S5].
- Feb 2026 coverage: 1,948 projects, revised cost ₹41.98 lakh crore, overrun ₹5.66 lakh crore [S2].
- IPMD = Infrastructure & Project Monitoring Division (under MoSPI) [S3].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS Paper III — Indian Economy: Infrastructure (Energy, Ports, Roads, Railways) and Government Budgeting.
- GS Paper II — Governance: e-Governance applications, transparency & accountability.
- Possible stems: 1. "Persistent time and cost overruns in Central Sector infrastructure projects defeat the multiplier effect of capex push. Examine, with reference to recent MoSPI monitoring data." 2. "Discuss how integration of monitoring portals like PAIMANA with DPIIT's IPMP exemplifies the 'one data, one entry' principle of digital governance."
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan — overarching infra integration framework.
- National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) — ₹111 lakh crore investment plan, complements PAIMANA tracking.
- DPIIT's IPMP / Project Monitoring Group (PMG) — directly integrated with PAIMANA.
- NMP (National Monetisation Pipeline) — asset monetisation angle.
- MoSPI's NSO / CPI / IIP — sibling statistical outputs.
- PRAGATI platform (PMO) — apex project review mechanism.
- Capital Expenditure trends in Union Budget — fiscal context for overruns.
- Public Investment Board (PIB) appraisal process — upstream of monitoring.
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Wrong ministry: PAIMANA is MoSPI, not DPIIT (DPIIT runs IPMP — they are integrated but distinct) [S1].
- Wrong threshold: ₹150 crore (not ₹100 crore, not ₹250 crore) [S1].
- PAIMANA vs PRAGATI: PRAGATI is PMO's video-conferencing review; PAIMANA is MoSPI's monitoring portal — do not confuse.
- OCMS-2006 confusion: Was a monitoring system, not a procurement system.
- Scope: Only Central Sector infrastructure projects — State or CSS projects are NOT monitored here.
11. Sources
- [S1] Flash Report on Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2232712 — (tier 1)
- [S2] Flash Report February 2026 (No. 484) — https://www.mospi.gov.in/uploads/release_calendar/1774601220124_FlashReport_February_2026.pdf — (tier 1)
- [S3] About IPMD / PAIMANA Portal — https://ipm.mospi.gov.in/AboutUs/AboutIPMD — (tier 1)
- [S4] PAIMANA Portal and Management of Major Infrastructure Projects — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2244898 — (tier 1)
- [S5] PAIMANA captures status of 1,702 nationwide projects (Jan 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2243777 — (tier 1)