PRAMAAN certificates launched for deforestation-free timber in India
Synopsis
India has crossed a milestone in sustainable forestry: the first PRAMAAN certificates under the IFWCS — nearly two years after the scheme's December 2023 launch — have gone to Andhra Pradesh's forest plantations covering 33,000 hectares and an Odisha bamboo farmer. The move is as much a trade strategy as an environmental one, designed to keep Indian timber exporters inside the door as the EU and other markets tighten deforestation-free sourcing rules.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav handed over India's first PRAMAAN certificates on 29 September 2026 in New Delhi .
The Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) was certified for plantations covering 33,000 hectares .
Farmer Govind Mohapatra of the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA) received the second certificate.
PRAMAAN is part of the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) , launched by the Ministry in December 2023 .
Certification is anchored in the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023 with mandatory third-party audits.
The scheme aims to help Indian exporters comply with global deforestation-free sourcing regulations and expand market access.
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, handed over India's first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) in New Delhi, marking a landmark shift from policy to field-level implementation in sustainable timber sourcing. The certificates validate responsible, deforestation-free wood supply chains and position Indian producers to meet tightening global trade regulations.
Who Received the First Certificates
The inaugural certificates were awarded to two entities: the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC), recognised for its plantation management across 33,000 hectares, and farmer Govind Mohapatra, associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA). According to an official statement, both underwent a rigorous field and management audit before receiving certification — a process that distinguishes PRAMAAN from self-declaration-based frameworks.
What PRAMAAN Is and Why It Matters
PRAMAAN is a certification instrument designed to help Indian producers, exporters, and forest-based enterprises meet emerging global regulatory requirements, including due diligence and responsible sourcing norms increasingly mandated by major international markets. Minister Yadav described it as a tool that positions India 'not merely to comply, but to lead' in sustainable forest and tree-outside-forest management systems.
The scheme's forest management certification is anchored in the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023, ensuring that audits are conducted by independent third parties rather than relying on voluntary self-declaration. Its accreditation architecture is benchmarked against international certification frameworks, enabling recognition from both domestic and global buyers and regulators.
Connection to Global Trade and Viksit Bharat
The minister noted that as global trade increasingly links market access to verifiable sustainability credentials, PRAMAAN aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vocal for Local and Act Global.' Yadav said the initiative would earn India recognition under Viksit Bharat @2047 — not just as a producer of sustainable goods but as a leader in sustainable governance, combining economic growth with ecological stewardship.
This comes amid a broader international push, particularly from the European Union, to enforce deforestation-free supply chain norms on imported timber, wood products, and commodities. Indian exporters without verifiable certification risk losing market access as these regulations tighten.
Participation and Road Ahead
The minister expressed satisfaction that several state forest departments, forest development corporations, farmers, and industries have already applied for Forest Management, Tree Outside Forest Management, and Chain of Custody certification under the scheme, with applications at various stages of processing. He called on certification bodies, state forest departments, tree growers, farmer producer organisations, farmer producer companies, industries, and institutions to deepen their participation.
Tuesday's certificates mark the culmination of processes established since the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formally launched IFWCS in December 2023, signalling the scheme's transition from a policy blueprint to ground-level implementation across both forest plantations and tree-based farming. With global sustainability standards only set to become more stringent, India's pace of scaling PRAMAAN will determine how competitive its timber and wood sector remains in export markets over the next decade.
Point of View
Indian exporters without internationally recognised certification face a real risk of exclusion. The choice to anchor the scheme in the NWPC 2023 and mandate third-party audits, rather than self-declaration, is a credibility signal aimed squarely at European and other G7 regulators. The harder question is scale: two initial certificates, however symbolically important, cover only a fraction of India's forest and agroforestry landscape. Whether state forest departments and smallholder farmers can be enrolled at pace — and whether the audit infrastructure exists to support them — will determine if PRAMAAN becomes a genuine trade enabler or remains a well-designed policy that outpaces its own implementation.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PRAMAAN certificate and what does it certify?
PRAMAAN is a certification instrument under India's Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) that validates responsible, deforestation-free timber sourcing. It covers Forest Management, Tree Outside Forest Management, and Chain of Custody certification, and is anchored in the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023 with mandatory third-party audits rather than self-declaration.
Who received the first PRAMAAN certificates on 29 September 2026?
The first certificates were awarded to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) for its plantation management across 33,000 hectares, and to farmer Govind Mohapatra, associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA). Both underwent rigorous field and management audits before certification.
When was the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme launched?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formally launched IFWCS in December 2023. The 29 September 2026 ceremony marks the scheme's transition from a policy framework to field-level implementation.
Why does PRAMAAN matter for Indian timber exporters?
Major international markets, including the European Union, are enforcing stricter deforestation-free sourcing regulations that require verifiable sustainability credentials for imported timber and wood products. Without recognised certification such as PRAMAAN, Indian exporters risk losing market access as these norms tighten.
Which organisations can apply for PRAMAAN certification?
State forest departments, forest development corporations, farmers, farmer producer organisations, farmer producer companies, and industries engaged in timber or wood-based activities are eligible. According to the minister, several such entities have already applied and are at various stages of the certification process.
