Highlights-PIB Year-end Review 2025: MoEFCC

Major Initiatives, Reforms and Achievements of MoEFCC:

Forest and Tree Cover Status

• According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023:
• The forest and tree cover of the country is 25.17% (21.76% forest cover and 3.41% tree cover) of the geographical area of the country.
• There has been a cumulative gain of 4.83% in forest and tree cover since 2013
• As per FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025:
  • India ranks 9th globally in forest area (up from 10th).
  • Retains 3rd position worldwide in annual net forest gain.

Coastal, Wetlands, Mangrove Conservation and Eco-Sensitive Zones

• MISHTI Programme: Mangrove restoration gained momentum:
  • 4536 ha area brought under restoration  in 2025.
  • Rs. 46.48 crore released in 2025.
  • Total 22,560 ha of degraded mangroves restored.

• Wetland Conservation
  • In 2025 , 11 Ramsar Sites were declared and added to the list.
  • India now has 96 Ramsar Sites, the highest in Asia
  • Udaipur and Indore became India’s first Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities
  • India now has the largest Ramsar network in Asia and the 3rd largest globally by number of sites.

• National Coastal Mission
  • Extended for 2025–31 with an allocation of ₹767 crore, strengthening climate resilience of coastal ecosystems.
  •  As of the 2025-26 season, 18 beaches in India across 7 coastal States and 4 Union Territories have been accorded the Blue Flag Certification.

• • Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)
    • Conservation planning in India follows an ecosystem-based approach to protect representative habitats.
    • Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) regulate development around Protected Areas while supporting sustainable livelihoods of local communities.
    • 353 final ESZ notifications covering 496 Protected Areas have been issued, compared to only 23 ESZs covering 25 Protected Areas till 2014.

Wildlife Conservation and Species Recovery

• Project Tiger
  • 58 Tiger Reserves now cover approximately 85,000 sq km as compared to 46 in 2014.
  •  New reserve: Madhav Tiger Reserve, MP
  • Elephant Reserves increased to 33 in 2025 in comparison to 26 in 2014;  about 8,610 sq km additional area brought under protection.

• Project Elephant:
  • 150 elephant corridors identified across 15 States
  • Ex-gratia for human fatalities enhanced: ₹5 lakh → ₹10 lakh
  • Rail-track mitigation portal; 110 critical sites identified
  • DNA profiling of captive elephants via Gaj Soochna App

•  Protected Areas and Community Reserves:
  • Protected Areas increased to 1134 in 2025 as compared to 745 in 2014.
  • Community Reserves under the Protected Area network has increased to 309 in 2025 as compared to 48 Protected Areas in 2014.

• Project Cheetah
  • Cheetahs were introduced into Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary; planned expansion to Noradehi & Banni Grasslands
  • Total cheetah population reached 30, including 19 cubs born in India
  •  Successful reproduction marked a major conservation milestone. Next batch of 8 cheetahs from Botswana received (2025)

• 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)
  • Framework Agreement entered into force on 23 January 2025.
  • Membership has expanded to 18 countries

• 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).

Biodiversity Conservation and Community Participation

• The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Rules, 2025 were notified to:
  • Simplify compliance
  • Encourage research and innovation
  • Strengthen benefit-sharing mechanisms
• Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
  • Reinforced the role of local communities as custodians of biodiversity.
  • Over ₹61 crore released to local communities under ABS.

Global Engagement

• • India actively participated in CBD COP-16 (Rome, 2025), advocating equity, finance, and technology transfer for biodiversity conservation.

Climate Change Action and Global Leadership

• Achievements of India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
  • Reduction in emission intensity of GDP by 36% from 2005 level achieved in 2020 – against the target of 45% by 2030
  • Installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil fuel based energy sources increased to more than 50% in June 2025 – 5 years ahead of schedule
  • Created 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink between 2005 and 2021 – against the target of creation of 2.5 – 3.0 billion tonnes of carbon sink by 2030

• Indian Carbon Market: Operationalisation of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) marked a major step in India’s climate strategy:
  • Compliance and offset mechanisms were established
  • Domestic market aligned with international carbon frameworks

Air Quality Improvement and Urban Environment

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) – Key Outcomes
  • 130 cities covered.
  • ₹13,415 crore provided as performance-linked funding (cumulative).
  • ₹792.72 crore released to 82 cities in FY 2025–26 under Control of Pollution (CP) Scheme.
  • Recommendations sent to Department of Expenditure (DoE) for release of: ₹2,194.25 crore to 48 million-plus cities under XV Finance Commission air quality grants.
  • PM10 reduction performance (2024–25 vs 2017–18):
    • 103 cities showed reduction.
    • 64 cities achieved >20% reduction.
    • 25 cities achieved >40% reduction.
    • 22 cities met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10.
• Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) – Urban Forestry
  • Focus: Urban green spaces & city forestry.
  • 75 projects sanctioned in 2025.
  • 620 Nagar Van projects sanctioned (cumulative).
  • Total outlay: ₹654 crore.

Waste Management & Circular Economy

• • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
  • EPR implemented across 8 waste streams.
  • As on 03 Dec 2025:
    • 71,401 producers registered.
    • 4,447 recyclers registered.
  • Recycling outcomes:
    • 375.11 lakh tonnes of waste recycled
      (plastic packaging, battery waste, e-waste, waste tyres).
    • 339.51 lakh tonnes of EPR certificates generated.
    • 237.85 lakh tonnes of certificates transferred to producers.

International Cooperation and Multilateral Engagement:

• Global Environmental Leadership
  • India played a leadership role at:
    • COP-30 (Brazil)
    • Ramsar COP-15
    • UNEA-7
    • BRICS Climate Forum
    • Minamata COP-6
  • Core thrust: Equity, climate finance, and technology transfer for developing countries.
• Ramsar COP-15 (Wetlands):
  • Venue: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • India introduced its first Ramsar resolution since 1982.
  • Resolution title: “Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands”
  • Adopted on 30 July 2025 with support of:
    • 172 Contracting Parties
    • 6 International Organisation Partners
  • Resolution aligned with Mission LiFE principles.
  • Related Convention: Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• India–Japan Environmental Cooperation:
  • MoEFCC (India) and Japan’s Ministry of Environment signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC).
  • Occasion: 15th India–Japan Annual Summit
  • Focus: Implementation of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement
    • Article 6.2 → enables bilateral carbon market cooperation, allowing countries to trade verified emission reductions as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) through direct agreements to meet their climate targets (NDCs)
  • Cooperation areas include:
    • Pollution control
    • Climate change mitigation
    • Waste management
    • Biodiversity conservation
    • Environmental technologies
  • Related treaty: Paris Agreement
• CITES COP-20:
  • Venue: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
  • Indian delegation led by:
    • Director General of Forests & Special Secretary
    • CITES Management Authority of India
  • Focus:
    • Conservation of wild species involved in international trade
    • Adoption of decisions and resolutions
  • Related Convention: CITES

Major Days/events celebrated:

• Celebrated World Wetlands Day 2025 at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, in February,  2025 with the theme of ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future’.
• International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2025  celebrated on May 22, 2025 with an Exhibition on Biodiversity and Bioresources, in Udaipur (Rajasthan). The theme for IDB 2025 was ‘Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development’.
• World Environment Day (WED) was organised on June 5, 2025 under the theme ‘One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution’.
• Celebrating 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21st June, 2025
• Celebrated Global Tiger Day 2025 on  July 29, 2025.
• Celebrated World Lion Day – 2025 on August 10, 2025, at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat.
• Celebrated World Elephant Day 2025 on August 12, 2025.
• Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards and Wetland Cities Recognition Ceremony 2025 was organized on 9th September 2025. The best-performing cities under Swachh Vayu Sarveshan 2025 conducted in 130 cities under National Clean air Progamme (NCAP) were awarded. Two cities namely Indore and Udaipur were issued certificates for being recognized as Wetland Cities under Ramsar Convention.
• 31st World Ozone Day on  September 16, 2025  celebrated with the theme ‘From science to global action’, highlighting the success of the Montreal Protocol.
• International Snow Leopard Day was observed on October 23, 2025, with a unique initiative titled ‘#23for23’, encouraging people across the country to engage in physical activities for 23 minutes to raise awareness about the conservation of snow leopards and their fragile habitats.

Major Reforms by MoEFCC in 2025

• Green Credit Programme (GCP) – Revised Framework
  • Expanded participation to public and private entities for restoring degraded forest land.
  • User agencies to directly restore degraded forest land.
  • Green Credits issued after 5 years if ≥40% canopy density achieved.
  • 1 credit = 1 tree older than 5 years.
  • Credits usable only once for:
    • Compensatory Afforestation (CA)
    • CSR obligations
    • Statutory plantation requirements
• Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025
  • Land bank creation allowed on degraded/government/recorded forest land (≤0.4 canopy).
  • Afforestation under government schemes eligible for CA.
  • Streamlined approvals for:
    • Strategic, defence, atomic & deep-seated mineral mining.
  • In-principle approval validity extendable beyond 5 years.
  • No CA required for underground mining without surface rights.
  • Offline proposals permitted for defence/strategic/emergency projects
• 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.
• Involvement of local forest officer in cases of land acquisition: 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.

Reforms under Air Acts and Water Acts

• Uniform Consent Reforms
  • • Nation-wide uniform guidelines for Consent to Establish/Operate across SPCBs/PCCs.
    • Industries with prior Environmental Clearance exempted from CTE.
• Industrial Classification & Compliance
  • Revised industry classification (Red/Orange/Green/Blue/White) to encourage better compliance.
  • States empowered to classify new sectors under White category.
  • 86 sectors notified as White category — exempted from CTE/CTO.

Reforms on EPR ((Extended Producer Responsibility) & Circular Economy (2025)

• EPR Coverage (8 Waste Categories)
  • Plastic packaging
  • E-waste
  • Battery waste
  • Used oil
  • Waste tyres
  • End-of-life vehicles (ELVs)
  • Construction & demolition (C&D) waste
  • Scrap of non-ferrous metals
  • EPR Regulations / Amendments Notified in 2025
• Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025
  • Objective: Environmentally sound management of ELVs.
• Environment (Construction & Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025
  • Objective: Scientific management of C&D waste.
• EPR for Scrap of Non-Ferrous Metals
  • Through amendment of Hazardous & Other Wastes Rules, 2016.
  • Objective: Environmentally sound management of non-ferrous metal scrap.
• Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025
  • Provision: Mandatory labelling of EPR registration number on batteries.
• Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2025
  • Provision: Mandatory labelling of EPR registration number on plastic packaging.
• Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025
  • Provides framework for: Identification, Assessment, Remediation of contaminated sites in India.

Major Reforms on Environmental Clearance Process for Ease of Doing Business

• Mining projects of minerals reclassified from ‘minor’ to ‘major’ by the Ministry of Mines, with lease area up to 5 hectares, shall be apprised as Category ‘B2’ under the EIA Notification, 2006.
• The EC framework for building construction projects has been rationalised by permitting changes in design and planning without requiring Environment clearance (EC) amendments.
•  Airport expansion and modernisation projects with valid ECs and no additional land requirement are now appraised as Category B2 projects, exempt from EIA and public hearings.
•  Green belt and green cover requirements for industrial estates/parks and individual industries have been rationalized based on pollution potential.
•  Delays arising from court or NCLT proceedings are excluded from EC validity period.
• The Environment Audit Rules, 2025, introduced a cadre of Certified Third-Party Environmental Auditors to conduct on-site verification and compliance audits under major environmental laws, reinforcing the government’s Trust Based Compliance – Ease of Doing Business.
• PARIVESH:
  • PARIVESH 2.0 achieved complete automation in clearance management, providing an integrated digital platform for Environment, Forest, Wildlife, CRZ clearances.
  • It integrates Geographic Information System (GIS) for real-time decision support, improves transparency through online tracking, and facilitates Ease of Doing Business while ensuring accountability and environmental safeguards.
  • By offering a single- window interface for project proponents, appraisal committees, and regulatory authorities, PARIVESH 2.0 strengthens the Government’s commitment to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” and promotes sustainable development.
  • Integrated with PM Gatishakti NMP, NSWS (National Single Window System), CAMPA’s digital payment gateway, and QCI-NABET’s accreditation portal, PARIVESH embodies the whole-of-government approach envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
  • The initiative not only improves Ease of Doing Business for industry but also advances India’s environmental governance through sustainability, precision, and citizen-centric design.