India’s Green Transformation: 12-Year Overview
Source: PIB
GS III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Overview
- News in Brief
- India’s Sustainable Environmental Transformation
- Key Achievements
Why in the News?
The Press Information Bureau highlighted India’s 12 years of Environmental Progress and Sustainable Development.
News in Brief
- Over the past 12 years, India has pursued a sustainable environmental transformation.
- It was guided by the principles of ‘Vishwaas (Trust and Governance), Nirman (Infrastructure and Nation Building), and Jan Kalyaan (Public Welfare)’.
- India recognised that ecological security is crucial for economic growth, public welfare, and long-term national resilience.
Three Pillars of India’s Sustainable Environmental Transformation
- Pillar 1 – Increasing ecological capability and biodiversity for resilient India.
- Pillar 2 – Expanding national capacity for sustainable transformation.
- Pillar 3 – Strengthening global credibility through leadership and diplomacy.
Key Achievements
Reviving Forest Landscapes
- Green India Mission (GIM) – launched in FY 2015-16.
- To strengthen ecological resilience and climate action.
- To improve forest quality and enhance carbon sequestration
- According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), India’s forest and tree cover reached 8.27 lakh sq.km, covering 25.17% of the geographical area.
- Forests store 30.43 billion tons of carbon stock – India’s most significant natural assets for climate mitigation and ecological security.
- Other Initiatives include;
- CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Fund Authority) – funded over 3.2 lakh hectares of compensatory afforestation.
- Nagar Van Yojana – Rupees 557.62 crore released for 626 urban forests.
- Aravalli Green Wall Initiative – aims to restore 6.31 million hectares of degraded landscapes.
- Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam – Launched in 2024.
- Over 262.4 crore saplings planted by December 2025.
- Plantation activities tracked through the Meri LiFE portal.
Restoring River Ecosystems
- Namami Gange Programme – launched in 2014, a flagship river rejuvenation mission.
- 524 projects worth rupees 43,030 crore sanctioned.
- 355 projects were completed.
- 218 sewage infrastructure projects undertaken.
- Industrial pollution reduced significantly.
- Project Dolphin -launched in 2020.
- First-ever nationwide dolphin population assessment completed.
- Supports conservation of Gangetic, Indus, and Irrawaddy dolphins.
Wetland Conservation
- National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)
- Promotes conservation and restoration of wetlands.
- Expanded from 148 wetlands (2018) to 165 wetlands (2023).
- Ramsar Sites
- Increased from 26 sites in 2014 to 100 sites by June 2026.
Recently added Ramsar Sites include
- Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) -Uttar Pradesh.
- Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh.
- Patna Bird Sanctuary – Uttar Pradesh.
- Chhari-Dhand – Gujarat.
Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation
- MISHTI scheme – Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes.
- Promotes mangrove restoration.
- Mangrove cover increased from 4,628 sq km (2013) to 4,992 sq km (2023).
Conservation of the Maritime Frontier
- Include beaches, estuaries, sand dunes, coral ecosystems, and coastal waters.
- National Coastal Mission plays a key role in coastal area protection.
- Focus on sustainable coastal management.
- Cleanliness, environmental management, safety standards, and sustainable tourism.
- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
- Ecologically sensitive areas near the coastal belt will be protected.
- Safeguard coastal communities that depend on the coastal region for their livelihood
Integrated Wildlife Conservation for Endangered Species
- Project Cheetah
- The World’s First Intercontinental Translocation of a large wild carnivore.
- 29 Cheetahs were brought from Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana.
- India’s Cheetah population reached 53.
- Rhino Conservation
- Increased from around 1,500 in the 1980s to over 4,000 by 2024.
- Project Tiger
- Increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 3,682 in 2022.
Circular Economy and Waste Management
- Promotes reuse, repair, recycle, and resource recovery.
- Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme
- 877 lakh metric tons of waste processed.
- 7,646 acres of land reclaimed.
- Recycling Ecosystem
- Recycling of wastes includes: plastic waste, tyre waste, battery waste and e-waste.
Environmental Education and Green Skill Development
- Environmental Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT)
- Facilitated over 1 lakh eco-clubs.
- Implemented across 21 states and 1 Union Territory.
- Around 5.5 lakh students engaged in environmental activities.
- Green Credit Programme (2023)
- It incentivises voluntary environmental action.
- 4,391 hectares of degraded forest land were identified for restoration across 12 states.
Organizations
- Continues to implement its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to strengthen climate- resilient infrastructure.
- Supports biodiversity conservation efforts under the Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD).
- Led global mass movement Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), encouraging sustainable lifestyles.
- Collaborates with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other international institutions on environmental sustainability initiatives.
Solid Waste Management
- Solid waste processing capacity surged from 17 per cent in 2014 to over 77 per cent by 2024.
- Achieved Through
- Material Recovery Facilities
- Bio-methanation plants
- Waste-to-energy units
- Urban region today processes 1,29,206 TPD out of 1,59,109 TPD
- Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 mandate four-stream source segregation: wet, dry, sanitary, and special care waste.
Environmental Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) Scheme
- Implemented across 21 States and 1 Union Territory
- The scheme facilitated over 1 lakh eco-clubs and engaged around 5.5 lakh students through environmental campaigns and awareness activities.
- Promotes environmental literacy, sustainable practices, and green workforce development.
Green Credit Programme (GCP)
- GCP, launched through the Green Credit Rules, 2023.
- The programme incentivises voluntary environmental actions by individuals, communities, and businesses.
- Seeks to
- Increase green cover
- Enhance carbon sequestration
- Restore degraded landscapes
- Reduce environmental footprints
- 4,391 hectares of degraded forest land across 12 States had been identified for eco-restoration under the programme till March 2026.
Nationally Determined Contribution
- Climate action commitments submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- What is the focus of the program?
- Aims Clean Energy
- Emissions intensity reduction
- Non-fossil energy capacity
- Carbon sink creation
- protecting natural ecosystems
- Reducing emissions intensity by 33–35 per cent from 2005 levels, eleven years ahead of schedule.
- The target of achieving 40 per cent non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030 was met nine years early.
International Solar Alliance (ISA), 2015
- International Solar Alliance (ISA), jointly by India and France at the COP21 climate summit in Paris.
- An intergovernmental organisation to harness solar energy among solar-resource-rich countries
- Alliance has 112 member countries.
- Strengthened India’s image as a champion of inclusive, climate-resilient growth
- Working model
- Focus on coordinated research
- Affordable financing
- Large-scale deployment of solar technologies.
India’s Green Transformation: 12-Year Overview: Conclusion
- Over the past decade, India has witnessed a significant green transformation, transitioning from a climate policy follower to an agenda setter in global efforts towards climate mitigation, clean energy adoption, and environmental conservation.
- India’s green transformation is ultimately a story of Vishwaas, Nirman, and Jan Kalyaan.
- With large-scale conservation, stronger institutions, technological innovation, and global leadership, India has built a robust foundation for long-term environmental security and sustainable growth.
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