India, Dec. 31 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Major Initiatives, Reforms and Achievements of MoEFCC
1. Forest Conservation, Afforestation and Green Cover Enhancement
1.1 Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign
Launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign emerged as one of the largest people-centric environmental movements in the world. Implemented through a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach:
1.2 Forest and Tree Cover Status
According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023:
* India ranks 9th globally in forest area (up from 10th).
* Retains 3rd position worldwide in annual net forest gain.
These achievements underscore India's long-term commitment to expanding green cover while improving forest quality.
1.3 National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (National CAMPA)
1.4 Aravalli Landscape Restoration (Green Wall Initiative)
2. Wildlife Conservation and Species Recovery
2.1 Project Tiger and Project Elephant
India continued to strengthen its flagship conservation programmes:
2.2 Protected Areas and Community Reserves
2.3 Project Cheetah
Project Cheetah entered an expansion phase in 2025:
* Next batch of 8 cheetahs from Botswana received (2025)
2.4 International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
India continued to lead the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA launched in April 2023 to conserve 7 big cat species globally) with
2.5 Launch of 05 National level Projects and 04 National-level Action Plans.
Five National Level Projects for Species Conservation and Conflict Management, which includes Project Dolphin Phase 11, Project Sloth Bear, Project Gharial, a Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, and a Project on "Tigers Outside Tiger Reserve" as well as, four National-level Action Plans & Field Guides for Species Population Assessments and Monitoring Programmes covering River Dolphins, Tigers, Snow Leopard and Bustards were launched during the Wildlife Week 2025 (October 2-8).
2.6 National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):
The 7th NBWL Meeting under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime Minister, held at Sansan, Gir on 3rd March 2025, brought together key stakeholders to discuss wildlife conservation efforts, emphasizing collaboration and action points for enhancing biodiversity conservation in India.
3. Biodiversity Conservation and Community Participation
3.1 Biological Diversity Reforms
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Rules, 2025 were notified to:
3.2 Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
3.3 Global Engagement
India actively participated in CBD COP-16 (Rome, 2025), advocating equity, finance, and technology transfer for biodiversity conservation.
4. Climate Change Action and Global Leadership
4.1 Achievements of India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
4.2 Indian Carbon Market
Operationalisation of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) marked a major step in India's climate strategy:
India also signed a bilateral mechanism with Japan, in August 2025, under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
5. Air Quality Improvement and Urban Environment
5.1 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
NCAP continued to deliver measurable outcomes:
Guidelines issued for conducting Ward level Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan in 130 cities.
5.2 Nagar Van Yojana (NVY)
Urban forestry gained momentum:
6. Waste Management and Circular Economy
6.1 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Circular Economy
EPR frameworks were implemented across eight waste streams:
7. Coastal, Wetlands, Mangrove Conservation and Eco-Sensitive Zones
7.1 MISHTI Programme
Mangrove restoration gained momentum:
7.2 Wetland Conservation
7.3 National Coastal Mission
8. Environmental Awareness, Education and Capacity Building
9. Activities under key Institutions:
10. International Cooperation and Multilateral Engagement
India played a leadership role at COP-30 (Brazil), Ramsar COP-15, UNEA-7, BRICS Climate Forum, and Minamata COP-6, reinforcing equity, finance and technology transfer for developing countries.
11. Days/events celebrated:
12.1 Green Credit Programme (GCP) - Revised Framework
o Compensatory Afforestation (CA),
o CSR obligations, or
o Statutory plantation requirements.
12.2 Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025
12.3 Second Amendment to Rules, 2023 (Nov 2025)
The Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023 were amended enabling the Nodal Officer' of the State to mandatorily assist and facilitate the user agency in the identification of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation.
Directions dated 13.11.2025 issued enjoining the project proponent to share copy of the land acquisition notification with the local Forest Department official so as to clearly delineate forest land at the time of acquiring land for any infrastructure project.
12.5.1 Uniform Consent Reforms
12.5.2 Industrial Classification & Compliance
12.7 Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025:
Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, notified on 24.07.2025, provides a framework for identification, assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in the country.
12. 8 Major Reforms on Environmental Clearance Process for Ease of Doing Business
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
