Ministry
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the Union government's nodal agency for environmental and forestry policy and India's designated nodal ministry for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It administers the country's core environmental statutes, clears projects that affect forest and eco-sensitive land, and authors the Nationally Determined Contributions India submits to the UN. It is the seat of power where the pace of India's energy transition is negotiated against its development and energy-security priorities.
Updated
- Headquarters
- Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi
- Budget 2026-27
- Rs 3,759.46 crore net allocation (PRS analysis of Demand for Grants)
- Net-zero target
- 2070 (announced COP26, 2021)
- Non-fossil capacity
- 51.93% of installed capacity as of 2025-12-31
Role
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the Union government’s apex body for planning, promoting and coordinating environmental and forestry policy. It administers India’s core environmental statutes — the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Air and Water pollution-control Acts, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the forest-conservation law now titled the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam — and it is the gatekeeper for the environmental and forest clearances that industrial, mining and infrastructure projects require. It is the cadre-controlling authority for the Indian Forest Service and oversees statutory bodies including the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the National Biodiversity Authority, the Central Zoo Authority and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Its second role is diplomatic and strategic: the ministry is India’s designated nodal authority for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It authors the Nationally Determined Contributions India files with the UN, coordinates the National Action Plan on Climate Change and its eight missions, and carries the negotiating brief to the annual Conference of the Parties. Because that brief balances decarbonisation pledges against India’s development and energy-security priorities — and because clearance decisions determine where forests, coal and infrastructure meet — the ministry sits at the centre of contested trade-offs that reach the Cabinet, the courts and the UN.
Desk maintained by IndiaStand editorial cycles. Officeholders are transient; this dossier tracks the institution.
Timeline since 1947
- reference
Department of Environment created; Forest (Conservation) Act enacted
A dedicated central environment department is set up, and the Forest (Conservation) Act begins central control over forest-land diversion.
- reference
Ministry of Environment and Forests formed
The department is elevated into a full ministry, consolidating environment and forestry administration.
- reference
Environment (Protection) Act enacted
Passed after the 1984 Bhopal disaster, it gives the Centre umbrella powers to protect and improve the environment.
- reference
National Action Plan on Climate Change launched
The NAPCC frames India's climate response around eight national missions, including the National Solar Mission.
- reference
Renamed Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Climate change is added to the ministry's title, formalising its role as India's climate-negotiation lead.
- official
Updated first NDC communicated to the UNFCCC
India commits to cut GDP emissions intensity 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels and reach about 50% non-fossil cumulative installed power capacity by 2030.
- reference
Forest law renamed and Carbon Credit Trading Scheme notified
The Forest (Conservation) Act is retitled Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, and the CCTS is notified to build an Indian Carbon Market.
- official
Cabinet approves NDC for 2031-2035
India's second NDC raises the emissions-intensity target to 47% by 2035 from 2005 levels and the non-fossil share to 60%, adds a 3.5-4.0 billion tonne CO2-equivalent carbon-sink target, and reaffirms net-zero by 2070.
Frequently asked
- What is Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change?
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the Union government's nodal agency for environmental and forestry policy and India's designated nodal ministry for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. It administers the country's core environmental statutes, clears projects that affect forest and eco-sensitive land, and authors the Nationally Determined Contributions India submits to the UN. It is the seat of power where the pace of India's energy transition is negotiated against its development and energy-security priorities.
- When was Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change established?
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was established 1985.
- What does Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change do?
- Its remit covers Environmental and forest policy, and administration of the Environment (Protection) Act, Air Act, Water Act, Wildlife (Protection) Act and the forest-conservation law, Environmental and forest clearances for projects, and appraisal of eco-sensitive land diversion, India's climate-change negotiating brief: UNFCCC/Paris Agreement, the National Action Plan on Climate Change and the Nationally Determined Contributions, Pollution abatement, biodiversity and wildlife conservation, and afforestation, Cadre-controlling authority for the Indian Forest Service and oversight of statutory bodies (NTCA, National Biodiversity Authority, Central Zoo Authority, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau).
- What is the latest on Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change?
- As of 2026-07-06: Cabinet approves NDC for 2031-2035. India's second NDC raises the emissions-intensity target to 47% by 2035 from 2005 levels and the non-fossil share to 60%, adds a 3.5-4.0 billion tonne CO2-equivalent carbon-sink target, and reaffirms net-zero by 2070.