Pradhan Plants Tree With Mother Under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'
Synopsis
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan planted a sapling with his mother at his New Delhi residence on World Environment Day, June 5, 2026, joining PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and calling on all citizens to participate in the nationwide afforestation drive.
Key Takeaways
Dharmendra Pradhan planted a tree with his mother at his residence on World Environment Day, June 5, 2026 .
The action was part of PM Narendra Modi 's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, launched on World Environment Day 2024 .
Pradhan described the campaign as a jan-andolan combining environmental responsibility with personal tribute to mothers.
The campaign builds on Van Mahotsav , India's tree-planting festival observed since 1950 .
The drive aligns with India's broader climate commitment of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070 .
Pradhan urged all citizens to plant at least one tree in their mother's name.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday, June 5, 2026 — World Environment Day — planted a sapling alongside his mother at his residence in New Delhi, participating in the nationwide Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant a Tree in Mother's Name) campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Context
Sharing the moment on X, Pradhan described the campaign — initiated by PM Modi — as having grown into a jan-andolan (people's movement) that blends environmental action with emotional resonance. In his post, he wrote that the occasion was 'not merely tree-plantation, but a beautiful confluence of gratitude towards one's mother and our shared responsibility towards nature.'
He urged citizens to join the drive and 'plant at least one tree in the name of your mother to enrich Dharti Maa (Mother Earth).' The post was accompanied by three images documenting the planting at his residence.
Policy Backdrop
PM Modi launched the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024, framing mass afforestation around a deeply personal cultural symbol — the mother — to drive grassroots participation. The initiative builds on Van Mahotsav, India's annual tree-planting festival observed since 1950 under the Ministry of Environment.
The campaign is part of a broader governmental approach of converting policy programmes into participatory movements, aligned with India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and its international climate pledges. By anchoring environmental targets in familial sentiment, the drive seeks to sustain public engagement beyond institutional channels.
Stakeholders and Impact
The campaign's primary stakeholders are Indian families and the general public, who are encouraged to plant saplings and share their participation. Senior ministers and public figures joining the drive serve as visible multipliers, reinforcing the message at scale.
For Pradhan, whose portfolio as Union Education Minister includes oversight of school eco-clubs and environment-linked curricula, the gesture also signals a possible convergence between the campaign and institutional education programmes. Researchers and policy observers are watching for state-level participation reports and linkages with school-based environmental initiatives in the coming months.
What's Next
Participation data and state-level plantation reports are expected to be compiled around future World Environment Day events. The Education Ministry's network of school eco-clubs could serve as a structured channel to expand the campaign's reach among younger citizens.
As the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam drive enters its third year, the extent to which it translates symbolic participation into measurable afforestation gains will be a key measure of its long-term policy impact.
Point of View
Visually resonant act that reinforces a prime ministerial initiative while generating organic public engagement. The campaign's design — tying afforestation to maternal reverence — reflects a deliberate strategy of embedding environmental policy within cultural and familial identity, which has historically produced higher mass participation than top-down mandates. For Pradhan specifically, the optics carry an additional layer: as Education Minister, publicly championing the campaign positions the ministry as a natural institutional partner for scaling the drive through schools. Whether the symbolic momentum translates into auditable plantation data remains the harder, less visible test.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (Plant a Tree in Mother's Name) is a nationwide afforestation drive launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024 , encouraging citizens to plant a sapling as a tribute to their mothers and contribute to environmental conservation.
Why did Dharmendra Pradhan plant a tree on June 5, 2026?
Dharmendra Pradhan planted a tree with his mother at his New Delhi residence on June 5, 2026 — World Environment Day — as part of PM Modi's Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, calling it a symbol of gratitude towards mothers and shared responsibility towards nature.
When was the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign launched?
The campaign was launched by PM Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024 , and has since grown into what the government describes as a jan-andolan (people's movement).
How does Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam relate to India's climate goals?
The campaign is part of India's broader afforestation strategy aligned with the country's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 . It also builds on the tradition of Van Mahotsav , India's annual tree-planting festival observed since 1950 .
How can citizens participate in Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam?
Citizens are encouraged to plant at least one sapling in their mother's name and share their participation, as Pradhan urged in his post. The campaign is open to all and is designed to drive mass, grassroots participation across India.
