The Chief Minister's Office of Rajasthan announced on Sunday, 31 May 2026 that the state government's flagship afforestation drive, Hariyalo Rajasthan Abhiyan, has so far planted approximately 20 crore saplings across the state, with a fresh target of 10 crore more plantings set for the current year. Posting on behalf of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, the CMO stated: 'हमारी सरकार ने हरियालो राजस्थान अभियान में अभी तक, प्रदेशभर में लगभग 20 करोड़ पौधे लगाए हैं' ('Our government has so far planted approximately 20 crore saplings across the state under the Hariyalo Rajasthan Abhiyan') and that a target of 10 crore plantings has been fixed for this year as well.

Context

Rajasthan is India's largest state by area and encompasses the Thar Desert, making it one of the most ecologically vulnerable regions in the country. The state's recorded forest and tree cover has historically hovered near 4.7 percent of its total geographical area — far below the 33 percent target set under national forest policy. Desertification, soil erosion, and climate stress have long made large-scale greening initiatives a policy priority for successive governments.

Policy Backdrop

Rajasthan has conducted annual plantation drives since the 1950s, aligned with the national Van Mahotsav festival. The state also participates in the Green India Mission, launched in 2014 as part of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, which aims to increase forest and tree cover by five million hectares. Funding mechanisms such as the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) have channelled resources to state-level drives. The Hariyalo Rajasthan Abhiyan — whose name translates roughly to 'Green Rajasthan Campaign' — represents the current BJP government's branded continuation of this lineage, with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, who took office in December 2023, positioning it as a signature environmental initiative.

Stakeholders and Impact

The campaign's primary beneficiaries are rural communities and farmers in arid and semi-arid districts, where tree cover can moderate temperatures, reduce wind erosion, and improve groundwater recharge. Environmental groups have consistently advocated for plantation drives in the region, though experts also flag the importance of monitoring sapling survival rates beyond the initial planting season. Large-scale drives of this nature also align India's commitments under global restoration frameworks such as the Bonn Challenge, which calls for the restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

What's Next

With the 2026 monsoon season approaching, the government's 10-crore sapling target for the year is expected to be pursued through community mobilisation, school and panchayat participation, and departmental plantation drives. Independent audits of sapling survival rates from previous cycles, along with any supplementary budget allocations or CAMPA fund utilisation disclosures, will be key indicators of the campaign's on-ground impact. The hashtag #आपणो_अग्रणी_राजस्थान ('Our Leading Rajasthan') used in the post signals the government's intent to frame this initiative within a broader narrative of state-led development leadership.