Ministry cites ₹1,843.27 crore 2025-26 budget for environmental schemes

The question asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to provide details on budgetary outlays for environmental challenges over the last five years, the status of ecological degradation mapping, and funds disbursed under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Asked and answered by: Asked by Shri Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer; Answered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav).

What the government said

• Total scheme-wise budgetary outlay for the Ministry was Rs. 1,843.27 crores in 2025-26 (Revised Estimates).
• The government uses satellite remote-sensing, GIS, and field observations for mapping ecological degradation.
• Forest Survey of India (FSI) conducts biennial assessments published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
• ISFR 2023 reports a total forest and tree cover of 8,27,356.95 sq km, which is 25.17% of the geographical area.
• NCAP covers 130 cities in 24 States/UTs.
• Total air quality performance-based incentive grant released under NCAP is Rs. 16,423.56 crore.
• Rs. 13,561.52 crore was released via the XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund.
• Rs. 2,862.04 crore was released via the Central Sector Scheme ‘Control of Pollution’.
• 108 out of 130 NCAP cities showed a reduction in PM10 concentration in 2025-26 compared to 2017-18.
• 46 cities showed a reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20%.
• 26 cities achieved a reduction of more than 40% in PM10 levels.
• 14 cities met NAAQS with PM10 concentrations less than 60 µg/m3.

Also in the document

• The answer states that ecological degradation is a multisectoral subject involving various stakeholders and caused by multiple natural and anthropogenic factors.
• The answer notes that PM10 levels in FY 2017-18 for Faridabad and Srinagar were not available, so baseline data from FY 2020-21 (Faridabad) and FY 2018-19 (Srinagar) were used for comparison.
• The answer does not provide a single consolidated figure for 'institutional funds' separate from the scheme-wise budgetary outlays listed in Annexure-I.