The Green India Mission (GIM) is one of the eight missions under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It was launched in 2014 with the core objective of protecting, restoring, and enhancing India’s forest cover while addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
The mission is designed not just to increase the quantity of forests but also to improve their quality and ecosystem services. It combines both adaptation and mitigation strategies to ensure resilience of communities, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
Why was the Green India Mission Launched?
The Green India Mission was launched because forests play a crucial role in:
- Carbon sequestration: Absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Ecosystem services: Conserving biodiversity, ensuring water security, preventing soil erosion, and maintaining livelihoods.
- Climate resilience: Protecting communities dependent on forests by promoting sustainable forestry and eco-restoration.
India, being a rapidly developing country, recognized the need to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Thus, the mission emerged as a strategic response to climate change while ensuring sustainable development.
What are the Objectives of the Green India Mission?
The mission outlines clear objectives:
- Increase forest and tree cover on 5 million hectares (mha) of land.
- Improve the quality of forest cover on another 5 mha of forest and non-forest land.
- Restore degraded ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands, ravines, mangroves, and scrub forests.
- Enhance carbon sequestration with an annual target of 50–60 million tonnes of CO₂.
- Promote community participation through institutions such as Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Gram Sabhas.
- Support livelihoods for around 3 million households that are dependent on forest-based resources.
What is the Revised Green India Mission (2021–2030)?
The revised roadmap for GIM, released in 2025, aligns the mission with India’s NDC commitments.
- Vision: Create a 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent carbon sink by 2030.
- Micro-ecosystem approach: Focus on vulnerable landscapes such as the Aravallis, Western Ghats, Himalayan region, Mangroves, and Arid Northwest India.
- Targets: Treat 1 mha directly by 2030 under GIM, and expand forest/tree cover to 24.7 mha, sequestering 3.39 billion tonnes CO₂.
- Sub-Missions (Revised):
- Forest quality & ecosystem services.
- Afforestation & ecosystem restoration.
- Livelihood enhancement for forest-dependent communities.
How is the Green India Mission Implemented?
Implementation is carried out at multiple levels of governance:
- National Level: Led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- State Level: Implemented by State Forest Development Agencies.
- District Level: Managed by Forest Development Agencies (FDAs).
- Village Level: Planned and executed by Gram Sabhas, JFMCs, and local committees.
- Urban Level: Carried out through Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in partnership with municipalities.
The mission is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a cost-sharing pattern:
- 90:10 for North Eastern states.
- 75:25 for other states.
It is implemented in convergence with other schemes like MGNREGS, CAMPA, and the National Afforestation Programme (NAP).
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What are the Targets of the Green India Mission?
The targets set under GIM include:
- Afforestation on 5 mha of non-forest land.
- Improve forest quality on 5 mha of existing degraded forests.
- Ecological restoration of grasslands (0.4 mha), wetlands (0.1 mha), mangroves, ravines, cold deserts, and abandoned mining areas (1.8 mha).
- Urban greening on 0.2 mha.
- Agroforestry expansion on 3 mha of agricultural lands.
These targets collectively contribute to achieving India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
What are the Achievements of the Green India Mission?
The details of the achievements of the Green India Mission are as follows:
| Timeframe | Achievement |
| 2015–16 to 2020–21 | 11.22 million hectares brought under plantations through GIM and related programmes |
| 2019–20 to 2023–24 | Rs 624.71 crore allocated to 18 states, of which Rs 575.55 crore utilized |
| 2005 to 2021 | 2.29 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent additional carbon sink created |
| Forest Survey of India (FSI) Estimate | Restoring open forests could sequester 1.89 billion tonnes CO₂ over 15 mha |
What Challenges does the Green India Mission Face?
Despite progress, several challenges exist:
- Funding Gaps: Allocation remains insufficient. For example, in Union Budget 2021, the outlay was reduced by 6.7% to Rs 250 crore.
- Missed Targets: Between 2015–17, the mission missed targets by 34%.
- Plantation vs. Natural Forests: Over-reliance on monoculture plantations (like eucalyptus) can harm biodiversity.
- Protection of Old-Growth Forests: Inadequate efforts to conserve existing natural forests.
- Implementation Delays: Launched in 2014 but delayed due to financial constraints.
- Differentiation Issues: Plantations are counted as forests, which undermines biodiversity-focused goals.
How is Monitoring and Evaluation Conducted?
The mission uses a 5-tier monitoring system:
- National level: Dedicated GIM cell with GIS-based monitoring.
- State/District level: Self-monitoring by implementing agencies.
- Community level: Social audits by Gram Sabhas.
- Scientific monitoring: Remote sensing by Forest Survey of India.
- Third-party evaluation: For accountability and transparency.
How Does GIM Contribute to Combating Desertification?
Nearly one-third of India’s land, about 97.85 million hectares, is degraded and needs urgent restoration. To address this, the Green India Mission (GIM) works in partnership with the Aravalli Green Wall Project, which is restoring around 8 lakh hectares across 29 districts to fight desertification and land degradation.
India has also pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, as part of its climate and environmental commitments. Among different methods, the restoration of open forests is considered the most cost-effective approach for carbon sequestration, as it not only captures large amounts of carbon dioxide but also improves biodiversity, water security, and livelihoods for local communities.
How is GIM Different from Other NAPCC Missions?
Unlike other NAPCC missions, GIM had a preparatory phase with activities like micro-planning, awareness campaigns, and nursery development. This preparatory year helped in identifying landscapes and building community awareness before full-scale implementation.
What Government Initiatives Support GIM?
The government initiatives that support GIM are as follows:
- National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Merged with GIM for unified execution.
- Nagar Van Yojana (2020): Creation of 600 urban forests and 400 Nagar Vatikas.
- Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA): Funds afforestation to offset forest diversion.
- Convergence with other schemes:
- MGNREGS (employment and afforestation).
- National Bamboo Mission.
- Sub-Mission on Agroforestry.
- CSR participation: NGOs, civil society, and corporates contribute under CSR.
Why is the Green India Mission Important?
The Green India Mission (GIM) plays a vital role in supporting India’s fight against climate change by directly contributing to its Paris Agreement commitments. It also helps improve the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities by creating income opportunities. At the same time, GIM promotes biodiversity conservation by restoring fragile ecosystems and preventing the loss of natural habitats.
Another important benefit is its role in preventing desertification, as it restores degraded land, improves soil health, and strengthens water security. Overall, the mission contributes to national development by aligning forestry with broader goals of ensuring food, water, and livelihood security for millions of people.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
| Launch | 2014 under NAPCC |
| Objective | Protect, restore, enhance forest cover; climate adaptation & mitigation |
| Targets | 5 mha afforestation + 5 mha forest quality improvement |
| Revised Goal (2021–2030) | 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent carbon sink |
| Major Landscapes | Aravallis, Western Ghats, Himalayas, Mangroves, Arid NW India |
| Budget Issues | Rs 250 crore allocation in 2021, reduced by 6.7% |
| Achievements | 11.22 mha plantations (2015–21); Rs 575.55 crore utilized (2019–24) |
| Challenges | Funding gaps, missed targets, monoculture plantations, old-growth forest protection |
| Monitoring | 5-tier system: GIS, social audits, FSI remote sensing, third-party checks |
| Importance | Climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, livelihood enhancement |
Also Check
Questions Based on Green India Mission (GIM)
Q1. Which ministry is the nodal agency for the Green India Mission?
(a) Ministry of Rural Development
(b) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
(c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(d) Ministry of Agriculture
(e) NITI Aayog
Answer: (c)
Q2. In which year was the Green India Mission launched?
(a) 2008
(b) 2010
(c) 2012
(d) 2014
(e) 2016
Answer: (d)
Q3. The revised GIM (2021–2030) aligns with which international agreement?
(a) Kyoto Protocol
(b) Paris Agreement
(c) Rio Declaration
(d) Montreal Protocol
(e) UNCBD
Answer: (b)
Q4. What is the total area target for afforestation under the original GIM?
(a) 2 mha
(b) 5 mha
(c) 7.5 mha
(d) 10 mha
(e) 12 mha
Answer: (d)
Q5. Which project under GIM aims to combat desertification in the Aravalli ranges?
(a) Aravalli Green Wall Project
(b) Desert Eco-Restoration Project
(c) Great Green Barrier
(d) National Afforestation Project
(e) Eco-Restore Mission
Answer: (a)
Q6. What is the estimated carbon sink target of GIM by 2030?
(a) 1.5 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
(b) 2.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
(c) 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
(d) 4.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
(e) 5.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent
Answer: (c)
Q7. Which monitoring method is not used in GIM?
(a) GIS-based monitoring
(b) Social audits by Gram Sabhas
(c) Satellite remote sensing
(d) Third-party evaluation
(e) Judicial monitoring by High Courts
Answer: (e)
Q8. Which scheme has been merged with the Green India Mission?
(a) National Afforestation Programme (NAP)
(b) PM Kusum Yojana
(c) National Solar Mission
(d) Jal Jeevan Mission
(e) Bharat Net Programme
Answer: (a)
Q9. Which tree is often criticized in plantations under GIM for its negative ecological impact?
(a) Neem
(b) Eucalyptus
(c) Banyan
(d) Mango
(e) Teak
Answer: (b)
Q10. What percentage of land in India was degraded in 2018-19?
(a) 15%
(b) 20%
(c) 25%
(d) 33%
(e) 40%
Answer: (d)
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