Budget for Green India Goes Up While Pollution Control Comes Down

On 1st February 2026, India’s Finance Minister presented the 2026-2027 budget, outlining the government’s expected revenues and planned expenditures. The budget’s key feature is the allocation to different Ministries within the Government of India.

The budget allocation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has increased by 8% to ₹3,759.46 crore, compared to the previous allocation of ₹3,481.61 crore.

While the share of the budget allocation for the National Mission for a Green India and wildlife protection increased, surprisingly, the share for Control of Pollution declined.

Emphasis on Greening India 

To increase forest cover and protect existing forest land, the Ministry has two plan schemes: the Green India Mission – National Afforestation Programme (GIM-NAP) and the Forest Fire Prevention Management scheme.

A major part of the increase in allocation has gone to the Green India Mission – National Afforestation Programme, which has increased to ₹170 crore from the previous year’s revised allocation of ₹62.45 crore.

Interestingly, the budget statement indicates that funds for GIM-NAP will be sourced from the Sovereign Green Fund. The allocation for the Sovereign Green Fund has been increased to ₹172.50 crore in FY 2026-2027, up from ₹104.29 crore in FY 2025-26. 

Green India Mission is among the environmental schemes that aim to protect, restore, and enhance India’s forest cover. Launched in 2014 as part of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, GIM undertakes plantation activities in forest and non-forest areas across selected landscapes.

Thanks to the Green India Mission, India;s total forest cover has increased to 7,13,789 square kilometres, representing 21.71% of the geographical area.

According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), India has moved up to 9th place in total forest area globally. 

Protecting the Wildlife Habitats

Another significant increase has been made to the budget for the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, with a major share allocated to Project Tiger and Elephant.

The important wildlife initiative has seen its budget allocation increased to ₹290 crore, up from ₹153.04 crore in the revised allocation of the previous Budget.

Project Tiger, launched in 1973, is a wildlife conservation initiative in India aimed at protecting the endangered tiger and its habitats and establishing dedicated tiger reserves to sustain its populations. 

Project Elephant, launched in 1992 by the MoEFCC, is a wildlife conservation initiative in India aimed at protecting the endangered Indian elephant. The project provides financial and technical support to the states for wildlife management of free-ranging elephant populations. 

Earlier, Project Tiger and Project Elephant were treated as two separate schemes, which were merged into Project Tiger & Elephant.

Finance Minister, while presenting the budget, also alluded to the first-ever Global Big Cat Summit in India this year. 

Environment Education

A major increase in allocation has gone to the Environment Education, Awareness, Research and Skill Development, which has increased to ₹104 crore from the previous year’s revised allocation of ₹75 crore.

Environment Education, Awareness, Research and Skill Development is a scheme that creates awareness and imparts environmental education through exhibitions and training programmes.

Among other objectives are collecting environmental information and disseminating it to broader stakeholders. Provisions for Environment Education, Awareness, and Training include the Swachhta Action Plan.

Dust in the Air

The major dampener in the budget allocation to the Ministry of Environment was the Control of Pollution allocation, at ₹1091 crore, compared to ₹1300 crore in the revised allocation of the previous Budget.

Control of Pollution has been conceptualised to provide financial assistance to Pollution Control Boards and funding to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Given that air pollution levels in India are among the highest in the world, especially in the capital region, posing a significant threat to the country’s health and economy, the budget cut is noteworthy.

Wrapping Up

Overall, budget allocation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is not significant; however, the budget includes several measures related to environmental protection, including a major financial boost forcarbon capture and storage.