An internal audit conducted by the education ministry has led to the discovery of a financial irregularity of almost ₹5 crore inside the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). As many as 10 officials of ICHR have been identified for disciplinary actions, including former member secretary, Umesh Ashok Kadam, currently a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

According to national media, the ministry wrote to the ICHR on March 5 regarding a Lokpal complaint alleging financial irregularities in several decisions made by the council. The special audit conducted between April 2021 to March 2023 states that the body was on “a reckless spending spree, neglecting rules and regulations” after Kadam took charge as a member secretary in August 2022.

In less than 10 months, Umesh Kadam resigned in May 2023, before completing his term and is now teaching at JNU at the centre of historical studies. 

Indian Council of Historical Research

ICHR is an autonomous organisation dedicated to funding historical research inside India. This incident is among the first by this government where a financial irregularity of this scale at ICHR is uncovered. The education ministries also learn to ask the ICHR to submit the First Stage Advice (FSA) to the vigilance division of the ministry.