**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to Unstarred Question No. 1177 in the Lok Sabha, to be answered on December 8, 2025, regarding losses due to forest fires. The Ministry monitors forest fires through the Forest Survey of India (FSI) and supports States/UTs in mitigation and management. The response includes details of burnt area assessment, financial assistance provided to States/UTs for fire prevention and management, and forest fire detections.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Forest Fire Context:**
* Forest fires are a recurring challenge in India, caused by natural factors (high temperatures, dry spells, lightning) and human-induced factors.
* Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and increased accumulation of dry fuel further exacerbate these risks.
* Forest protection and management are primarily the responsibility of State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* **Monitoring and Alert Systems:**
* The Ministry monitors forest fire incidents through the FSI, which issues satellite-based Pre-Forest Fire Alerts, Near Real-Time Forest Fire Alerts, and Large Forest Fire Alerts to State Forest Departments.
* A real-time nationwide remote-sensing and alert system has been operationalized by FSI for all States, including high-risk regions.
* The FSI conducts biennial forest resource assessments.
* **Government Actions and Support:**
* The Ministry has taken measures including preparation of the National Action Plan on Forest Fire, facilitation of State/UT-level Action Plans, and provision of early-warning alerts through FSI.
* Three specialized teams comprising 150 personnel have been trained for managing large forest fire incidents, in coordination with NDMA and NDRF.
* The Ministry supplements State efforts through technical support, early-warning systems, capacity-building initiatives, and financial assistance.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Financial support is provided to States/UTs through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Forest Fire Prevention and Management (CSS-FFPM).
* Funds are released for activities such as creating and maintaining fire lines, engaging fire watchers, constructing water storage structures, procuring fire-fighting equipment, awareness campaigns, and restoring burnt areas.
* **Annexure Details:**
* Annexure I provides the State/UT-wise burnt area assessment for the forest fire seasons from November 2023 to June 2024.
* Annexure II details financial assistance under CSS-FFPM released to States/UTs in the last five financial years and forest fire detections for the last five forest fire seasons (November 2020 to June 2025).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** State Governments and Union Territory Administrations
* **Impact:** Responsible for the primary management and prevention of forest fires within their jurisdictions.
* **Action Required:** Implement forest fire prevention and management strategies, utilize provided funds effectively, and coordinate with the Ministry for support.
**Stakeholder:** Forest Survey of India (FSI)
* **Impact:** Central agency for monitoring forest fire incidents, issuing alerts, and providing technical support to states.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring and providing alerts, conducting assessments, and coordinating with states for effective fire management.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing forest fire management nationally, providing financial and technical support to states, and coordinating with other agencies.
* **Action Required:** Continue supporting states through funding and resources, implementing the National Action Plan, and coordinating with other agencies for effective fire management.
Key Entities Referenced
Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun: The central organization that monitors forest fire incidents and issues satellite-based fire alerts to State Forest Departments.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry responsible for forest fire prevention and management, including providing financial and technical support to States/UTs.
National Green Tribunal (NGT): The directive issued by NGT to highlight Uttarkhand's lacking in firefighting infrastructure.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Forest Fire Prevention and Management (CSS-FFPM): A central government scheme providing financial assistance to States/UTs for forest fire management activities.
Uttarakhand: State where the NGT highlighted acute lack of firefighting infrastructure
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1177
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Loss due to Forest Fires
1177. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the response of the Government to the satellite data revealing massive forest loss in
Manipur during wildfire near Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh and ongoing forest fires
across the country during the last five years;
(b) the action taken by the Government following National Green Tribunal (NGT)
directive highlighting Uttarakhand’s acute lack of firefighting infrastructure including
no protective gear, vehicles, communication systems, and only one guard per 2,448
hectares, despite 1,276 fires in 2024;
(c) whether a real-time nationwide remote-sensing and early-alert mechanism has been
implemented across all high-risk States such as Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, if so, the details thereof along with State and district-wise
list of forest burnt during the last ten years;
(d) the reasons behind not enforcing robust capacity building, equipment provisioning,
and professional staffing by the Government as recommended by NGT in Uttarakhand;
and
(e) the details of quarterly data on forest fires, loss areas, response times, and expenditures
for last five years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) Forest fires in India are a recurring challenge arising from both natural causes
such as high temperatures, prolonged dry spells and lightning, as well as human-induced
factors including shifting cultivation, deliberate burning for fodder and accidental ignition.
These risks are further aggravated by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns and
increased accumulation of dry fuel load, particularly in hill regions and dry deciduous
forests. Forest protection, including prevention and management of forest fires, primarily
rests with the concerned State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
The Ministry monitors forest fire incidents through the Forest Survey of India (FSI),
Dehradun, which issues satellite-based Pre-Forest Fire Alerts, Near Real-Time Forest Fire
Alerts and Large Forest Fire Alerts to the State Forest Departments. The Ministry also
supports the States in taking timely mitigation, control and post-fire management measures.
Further, a real-time nationwide remote-sensing and alert system has been operationalised by
FSI for all States, including high-risk regions such as Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Madhya
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. FSI also conducts biennial forest resourceassessments under the ISFR series and has carried out a national-level burnt area assessment
for the 2023–24 forest fire season, the details of which are placed at Annexure-I.
To strengthen forest fire prevention and management, the Ministry has taken several
measures including preparation of the National Action Plan on Forest Fire, facilitation of
State/UT-level Action Plans, and provision of early-warning alerts through FSI. In
coordination with NDMA and NDRF, the Ministry has trained three specialized teams
comprising 150 personnel for managing large forest fire incidents. The Ministry supplements
State efforts through technical support, early-warning systems, capacity-building initiatives
and financial assistance.
The Ministry provides financial support to States/UTs through the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme on Forest Fire Prevention and Management (CSS-FFPM), under which funds are
released for creation and maintenance of fire lines, engagement of fire watchers,
construction of water storage structures, procurement of fire-fighting equipment, awareness
activities and restoration of burnt areas. The details of financial assistance under CSS-FFPM
released to States/UTs, along with forest fire detections for the last five forest fire seasons
(November 2020 to June 2025), are placed at Annexure-II.Annexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1177 DUE FOR REPLY ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING “LOSS DUE TO
FOREST FIRES” BY SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH.
The State/UT wise burnt area assessment during the forest fire seasons November 2023 to
June 2024.
Sl.No. State/UT Total Burnt Area in Square Kilometre
1. Andaman & Nicobar 0.00
Islands
2. Andhra Pradesh 5,286.76
3. Arunachal Pradesh 126.03
4. Assam 419.20
5. Bihar 682.74
6. Chandigarh 0.00
7. Chhattisgarh 3,812.28
8. Dadra & Nagar Haveli & 0.00
Daman & Diu
9. Delhi 0.00
10. Goa 0.45
11. Gujarat 408.61
12. Haryana 44.63
13. Himachal Pradesh 783.11
14. Jammu & Kashmir 438.86
15. Jharkhand 1,086.46
16. Karnataka 2,088.35
17. Kerala 208.96
18. Ladakh 0.00
19. Lakshadweep 0.00
20. Madhya Pradesh 3,172.13
21. Maharashtra 4,095.04
22. Manipur 285.20
23. Meghalaya 463.95
24. Mizoram 243.76
25. Nagaland 161.77
26. Odisha 2,463.74
27. Puducherry 0.00
28. Punjab 40.55
29. Rajasthan 424.47
30. Sikkim 2.08
31. Tamil Nadu 1,322.74
32. Telangana 3,983.28
33. Tripura 190.47
34. Uttar Pradesh 257.88
35. Uttarakhand 1,808.90
36. West Bengal 259.93
Total 34,562.33Annexure-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPY TO PART OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1177 DUE FOR REPLY ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING “LOSS DUE TO
FOREST FIRES” BY SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH.
Details of financial assistance under CSS-FFPM released to States/UTs in the last five
financial years
(Amount in Crores)
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Financial Year
Fund released 32.47 34.26 28.25 39.18 30.76
Details of Forest fire detections for the last five forest fire seasons (November 2020 to June
2025)
November November November November November
Forest Fire Seasons 2020 to 2021 to 2022 to 2023 to 2024 to
June 2021 June 2022 June 2023 June 2024 June 2025
Forest Fire Detections 3,45,989 2,23,333 2,12,249 2,03,544 2,38,309