Lok Sabha Question No. 296 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Implementation of the Green Credit Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Yogender Chandolia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 296

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## Implementation of the Green Credit Programme

## 296.     SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

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

- (a) the details of the mechanism adopted under the Green Credit Programme for the registration of degraded land, issuance of Green Credits and digital monitoring of plantation activities;
- (b) the  categories  of  participants  eligible  to  undertake  plantation  activities  under  the  said programme; and
- (c) the details of the outcomes achieved so far in the programme in terms of enhancing forest and tree cover, building an inventory of degraded land for afforestation and encouraging citizen and corporate participation in sustainable environmental initiatives?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (b) The Green Credit Programme is an innovative mechanism to incentivise environmentally positive  actions  and  to  promote  the  LIFE  (Lifestyle  for  Environment)  movement,  which  aims  at encouraging sustainable lifestyles by driving community towards behavioural changes that support environment-friendly actions. The Green Credit Programme aims to increase green cover, enhance carbon  sequestration,  restore degraded  lands and  reduce  carbon  footprint through the  adoption  of environment-friendly technologies and practices.

The  Central  Government  has  notified  Green  Credit  Rules,  2023  on  12 th October  2023  under  the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to encourage voluntary environmental positive actions resulting in issuance of Green Credits. Under the Green Credit Programme, the modality for tree plantation and  eco-restoration  of  degraded  forest  lands  has  been  notified  on  22 nd   February  2024  and subsequently revised on 29 th  August 2025. A Green Credit Programme Portal (https://moefcc-gep.in/) has been developed for the purpose.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun is the Administrator which is responsible  for  the  effective  implementation  of  the  Green  Credit  Programme,  including  its management, operation and issuance of green credits under these rules.

The Green Credit Programme aims to restore degraded forest lands through the active participation of public and private sector entities. The degraded forest land parcels proposed to be taken up under the Green Credit Programme are selected and registered by the State Forest Department after due verification on the ground.

The Green Credits can be claimed by an applicant only after minimum five years of restoration work have been completed and a minimum canopy density of forty per cent has been achieved. A five-year establishment period is prescribed to allow the planted seedlings and natural regenerations to mature and develop adequate canopy cover, so as  to  achieve  the  prescribed  40 per cent canopy  density, corresponding to a moderately dense forest. The "designated agency" designated under the Green Credit Programme shall conduct verification of the claim for the Green Credits and submit report to the Administrator as regard to the verification of the activities undertaken by an applicant for issuance of green credit. Transparency and accountability of the Green Credit Programme is enabled through methodologies, guidelines and digital processes.

The forest restoration activities under the Green Credit Programme aim to enhance biodiversity and improve the ecological health and productivity of forest resources.

(c)  So far under the Green Credit Programme, eco-restoration activities have been initiated over an area of 4258 ha, through the participation of 17 entities.

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