A prominent Delhi-based policy think tank composed of retired bureaucrats and senior government officials has come under scrutiny for financial irregularities and disproportionately low spending on research projects. The institution, long regarded as a hub for elite policy discourse, is being audited for alleged lapses in fund utilization. Authorities have questioned why the majority of its grants were directed toward administrative overheads, salaries, and non-research consultancy work, leaving minimal budgetary allocation for field studies, publications, and data-driven policy research. The review also points to inconsistent auditing practices and underreporting of foreign contributions, raising concerns about transparency in its operations. The think tank, which has historically influenced governance through policy inputs, now faces an inquiry from its primary funding council over compliance with grant-in-aid norms. Officials emphasize this probe is not punitive but aimed at ensuring accountability among high-profile research institutions.