The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh announced on Sunday, 12 July 2026 that the state government has designated the day as 'Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026' — a mass tree-plantation drive conducted under the national 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, with saplings being planted simultaneously across every district, village, town, and ward in the state.

Context

The post, attributed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, states: 'aaj ka din Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026 ke roop mein nirdharit kiya hai' ('today has been designated as Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026'), framing the drive as an act of gratitude to Dharti Mata (Mother Earth). The campaign is being carried out in response to the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is credited in the post as the inspiration behind the initiative. The Uttar Pradesh government has positioned the drive as a citizens' movement, with the post noting that 'every citizen of the state is joining this mega campaign.'

Policy Backdrop

Prime Minister Modi launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign on World Environment Day 2024, calling on Indians to plant a sapling as a tribute to their mothers and to Mother Earth. The initiative blends environmental action with cultural sentiment, aiming to drive broad public participation in afforestation beyond government machinery. Uttar Pradesh, as India's most populous state, represents a significant front in any national greening effort, and the state government has repeatedly invoked the slogan 'Pragati Bhi Prakriti Bhi' (Progress Along with Nature) to frame its environmental commitments alongside development goals.

Monsoon-season plantation drives have been a recurring feature of Indian environmental policy across successive governments, timed to take advantage of rainfall that improves sapling survival rates. The 'Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026' designation elevates this year's drive with a ceremonial framing — mahayagya meaning a great sacred ritual — signalling an intent to mobilise participation at a scale beyond routine annual drives.

Stakeholders and Impact

The drive spans every administrative unit of Uttar Pradesh — from district headquarters down to individual wards and villages — making local bodies, gram panchayats, urban local bodies, and school and college administrations key implementing actors. Citizens across the state are being called upon to participate directly, extending the campaign's reach beyond government departments. Community ownership of saplings is central to the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' model, as emotional attachment to a tree planted in a mother's name is expected to improve long-term survival rates — a persistent challenge in large-scale plantation programmes.

What's Next

District-wise plantation tallies and official participation figures are expected to be released by state authorities in the coming days. Independent audits of sapling survival rates — typically conducted over the following quarter — will be a key measure of the drive's on-ground impact. The Uttar Pradesh government's ability to report credible numbers will shape how the 'Vriksharopan Mahayagya-2026' is assessed against previous years' drives. Sustained follow-up, including watering, protection, and maintenance of planted saplings, will determine whether the campaign delivers lasting environmental gain beyond its symbolic launch.