Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 12 July 2026, inaugurated the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026 at a ceremony held in Gorakhpur district, marking the formal launch of the state's large-scale tree plantation campaign for the year.

Context

The Chief Minister's post referenced the inauguration event in Gorakhpur — 'एक पेड़ माँ के नाम' वृक्षारोपण महायज्ञ-2026 के शुभारंभ हेतु जनपद गोरखपुर में आयोजित कार्यक्रम में — translated as 'at the programme organised in Gorakhpur district for the launch of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026.' Gorakhpur is the political and spiritual base of Yogi Adityanath, who heads the Gorakhnath Math there, making the district a natural venue for flagship state events.

The phrase Mahayagya — literally a 'grand sacred offering' — frames the plantation drive within a cultural and religious idiom, a hallmark of how the Uttar Pradesh government has positioned its afforestation campaigns since 2017. The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' ('One Tree in Mother's Name') campaign invites citizens to plant a sapling as a tribute to their mothers, combining personal sentiment with an environmental goal.

Policy Backdrop

The Uttar Pradesh government has conducted annual large-scale van mahotsav and tree plantation drives every year since 2017, reporting the planting of several crore saplings across the state each season. These campaigns are typically timed to coincide with the onset of the monsoon, when soil moisture conditions give saplings the best chance of survival.

The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' scheme extends this tradition by adding a participatory, emotionally resonant hook — encouraging individuals, families, schools, and local bodies to register plantation pledges. The 2026 edition, branded as a Mahayagya, signals an intent to scale up both the symbolic weight and the organisational reach of the campaign. The drive aligns with national targets to increase India's green cover and forest area as part of its climate commitments.

Stakeholders and Impact

Local communities and farmers in Gorakhpur and across Uttar Pradesh are the primary participants in the campaign. For farmers, tree plantation on field bunds and degraded land can supplement income through timber, fruit, or agroforestry benefits over time. For urban residents, the campaign provides a structured channel for environmental participation.

The choice of Gorakhpur as the launch venue carries political as well as logistical significance. The district sits in the ecologically stressed eastern Uttar Pradesh belt, where deforestation pressure from agriculture and urban expansion has historically been high. A high-profile launch by the Chief Minister in his home district is designed to generate grassroots momentum that district administrations can then carry forward across the state's 75 districts.

What's Next

District-wise plantation targets and progress reports are expected to be released by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department through the 2026 monsoon season, with survival-rate audits typically conducted in the post-monsoon period. The success of the campaign will be measured not only by the number of saplings planted but by the proportion that survive into the following year — a metric that past drives have faced scrutiny over.

As Uttar Pradesh continues to position itself as a leader in state-led environmental action, the Mahayagya-2026 will be watched as a test of whether culturally framed campaigns can translate into durable green cover gains on the ground.