India's green cover 11% short of target, warns Giriraj Singh on World Environment Day
Synopsis
On World Environment Day, a sitting Union Minister admitted India is 11% short of its per-capita green cover benchmark — even as NDA leaders planted trees nationwide. The candid acknowledgement puts a number on the gap that years of plantation campaigns have failed to close.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Giriraj Singh disclosed India faces an 11% shortfall in per-capita green cover on World Environment Day, 5 June .
The required benchmark is 0.05 hectares of tree cover per unit of land — a target India has not yet met.
NDA leaders held tree plantation drives nationwide under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
Singh also highlighted the 'PM Surya' renewable energy initiative and 'Mission Amrit Sarovar' for water conservation.
The minister visited Vasant Kunj, Delhi to promote artisan stalls, with the EPCH facilitating handicraft exports to US-based clients .
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on 5 June — World Environment Day — warned that India faces an 11 per cent shortfall in per-capita green cover, even as NDA leaders nationwide participated in tree plantation drives under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The caution came amid a broader push by the government to link environmental action with citizen participation.
The Green Cover Gap
Speaking to reporters, Singh said: 'We are currently facing an 11 per cent shortfall in the per-capita green cover required for environmental sustainability.' He elaborated that the benchmark requires 0.05 hectares of tree cover per unit of land, a target India has yet to meet. The acknowledgement is notable given the scale of plantation campaigns the government has run in recent years — suggesting that drives alone have not been sufficient to close the deficit.
Broader Environmental Agenda
Singh also flagged the mounting threat of carbon emissions and underscored the government's push toward renewable energy through the 'PM Surya' initiative. He further recalled Prime Minister Modi's emphasis on water conservation via 'Mission Amrit Sarovar', framing these as interconnected pillars of the Centre's environmental strategy. 'Under social forestry, we are urging people to plant Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,' he added.
Artisan Outreach in Vasant Kunj
On the sidelines, Singh visited a market in Delhi's Vasant Kunj area, where his ministry has allocated land to promote artisans. He said stalls have been set up for craftsmen, with sale proceeds transferred directly to their bank accounts. The initiative also showcases products of award-winning artisans alongside other skilled craftsmen.
Export Push for Handicrafts
Singh highlighted the ministry's Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which facilitates artisans in selling products to US-based clients through trade fairs, global pavilions, and e-marketing platforms. 'Pictures of the artisans' products are taken here and sold abroad through e-marketing,' he said. His stated goal is to create an ecosystem where even the next generation of artisans can leverage technology and global markets.
With India's per-capita green cover still below the prescribed threshold, the government's plantation campaigns face a measurability test — and Singh's own admission on World Environment Day signals that the gap remains a live policy challenge.
Point of View
Yet a quantified shortfall persists. Without independent verification of survival rates for planted saplings and a credible timeline to close the gap, 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' risks becoming another well-intentioned headline that does not move the ecological needle.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's per-capita green cover shortfall?
According to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, India currently faces an 11% shortfall in per-capita green cover against the required sustainability benchmark of 0.05 hectares of tree cover per unit of land. He made the disclosure on World Environment Day, 5 June.
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' — meaning 'One Tree in Mother's Name' — is a tree plantation campaign promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of India's social forestry push. NDA leaders held drives under this campaign across the country on World Environment Day.
What other environmental initiatives did Giriraj Singh mention?
Singh referenced 'PM Surya', the government's renewable energy initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions, and 'Mission Amrit Sarovar', which focuses on water conservation. He framed these as complementary pillars of the Centre's environmental agenda.
Why does the green cover shortfall matter?
Per-capita green cover is a key indicator of environmental sustainability, affecting air quality, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. An 11% deficit against the prescribed benchmark suggests that India's plantation campaigns have yet to translate into sufficient on-ground tree density.
What is the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)?
The EPCH is a body under the Union Textiles Ministry that helps Indian artisans access global markets, including through trade fairs, global pavilions, and e-marketing platforms. Singh said it currently facilitates sales to US-based clients, with proceeds transferred directly to artisans' bank accounts.
