Providing benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) to deceased persons, payment of instalments to those ineligible for the scheme, and full assistance paid for non-existent houses have been discovered in an audit exercise in 10 districts of Bihar. The audit revealed discrepancies such as unrealistic geo-tagging of house locations and incorrect payment of instalments. The accountant general’s teams discovered these issues during the audit of the rural housing scheme’s implementation in the state. The state Rural Development Department Secretary, N Saravana Kumar, has instructed officers to strictly adhere to the Centre’s guidelines for implementing the programme. The discrepancies include benefits granted to deceased individuals, irregular payment of instalments to ineligible beneficiaries, unrealistic geo-tagging, and payment of instalments to incorrect accounts. The auditors also noted in the letter the non-preparation of comprehensive annual action plans in certain areas, approvals granted in Gram Sabha meetings without a quorum, and full assistance paid for non-existent PMAY-G houses. Bihar Rural Development Minister Sharvan Kumar stated that these are old cases and that action has been taken against those involved. He also emphasized the zero-tolerance policy against corruption of the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government. The minister accused the Centre of disregarding Bihar’s requests for fresh targets under the PMAY-G scheme. Sharvan Kumar claimed that Bihar has not received fresh targets from the Centre for the last three years. The PMAY-G initiative aims to provide ‘pucca’ houses with basic amenities to eligible rural households in two phases. The central and state governments share the unit cost in a 60:40 ratio. The plains receive an assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh per unit, while hilly and difficult areas and districts under the Integrated Action Plan receive Rs 1.30 lakh per unit. In response to the minister’s allegations, Bihar BJP leader Nikhil Anand accused the state government of mismanaging central welfare schemes and diverting funds. He called for a thorough investigation by central agencies into the discrepancies observed by auditors. The article ends by mentioning Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme launched by the Centre to achieve universal health coverage.