Parliament Question: Coverage of National Mission for Green India

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 406 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026 Coverage of National Mission for Green India *406. SHRI CHUNNILAL GARASIYA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased

to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of decline in tree plantation activities recorded under the National Mission for Green India during the period between 2015 and 2025;

(b) if so, the steps being taken by the Ministry to address the shortfalls and accelerate plantation activities under the Mission;

(c) the specific role of the weightage given by the 16th Finance Commission in encouraging States to increase their forest cover;

(d) whether the Ministry has successfully integrated carbon sequestration monitoring into the design of the Mission; and

(e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 406 FOR REPLY ON 02.04.2026 REGARDING COVERAGE OF NATIONAL MISSION FOR GREEN INDIA ASKED BY SHRI CHUNNILAL GARASIYA

(a) & (b) The National Mission for a Green India (NMGI) is one of the nine Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and aims to protect, restore and enhance forest and tree cover while contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation through plantation and ecosystem restoration in identified landscapes. The Green India Mission (GIM), a scheme under the NMGI, adopts a landscape-based approach, wherein interventions are planned and implemented across contiguous forest and non-forest areas, integrating ecological, hydrological, and socio-economic dimensions. Activities under GIM are undertaken based on approved Perspective Plans and Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) submitted by States/UTs and approved by the National Executive Council. The Mission is implemented through a convergence-based framework, leveraging resources from various Central and State Government schemes and programmes.

GIM being a long-term mission focused on ecosystem restoration, afforestation, and climate adaptation, plantation and eco-restoration activities under GIM may vary across the years due to factors such as phased approvals of plans, timely availability of funds, and institutional preparedness at the State level. GIM has contributed to the overall increase in India’s forest and tree cover. As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), forest and tree cover has increased from 7,94,245 sq km in 2015 to 8,27,356.95 sq km in 2023, registering a net increase of 33,111.95 sq km. These gains are attributable to sustained afforestation and eco-restoration efforts undertaken through coordinated actions of Central and State Governments under various schemes, including GIM.

Further, under the overarching theme of “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, a nationwide voluntary plantation initiative was launched on 5th June 2024 to promote tree planting through public participation and convergence with ongoing schemes.

To address gaps and accelerate implementation, the Ministry has taken several measures, including; Strengthening planning processes with improved technical support; Promoting convergence with Central and State schemes and programmes of line departments; Streamlining fund flow mechanisms and enhancing transparency through digital monitoring tools; and Encouraging adoption of site- specific, climate-resilient plantation models.

(c) The 16th Finance Commission has been mandated to recommend the distribution of central taxes among States taking into account several factors including forest cover. The Commission in its report has relied upon the framework that uses forest and tree cover data (as per India State of Forest Reports), including Very Dense, Moderately Dense and Open Forest categories, for incentivizing States. This approach aligns fiscal devolution with national priorities and provides financial resources to States to support afforestation, ecological restoration, and sustainable forest management, complementing initiatives like the Green India Mission.(d) & (e) Monitoring of forest and tree cover, including assessment of forest carbon stock, is carried out biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) using remote sensing, GIS-based tools, and ground-based inventory methods. These assessments capture the impact of afforestation and restoration activities undertaken under various schemes, including GIM. Further, the Ministry promotes the use of technology- based monitoring tools, including geo-tagging, remote sensing, and field-based verification, to improve accuracy of plantation monitoring.

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