Govt Hikes Environment Budget By 9%

New Delhi: The central government has allotted Rs3,412.82 crore to the Union Environment Ministry in the 2025-26 Union Budget, an increase of 9 per cent from 3,125.96 crore in 2024-25. The Budget allocates more funds for ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection and expanding forest cover. The National Mission for a Green India, which works to expand forest cover, protect existing forests and prevent wildfires, will receive Rs220 crore in 2025-26, an increase from Rs160 crore last year.

Funding for natural resource and ecosystem conservation has also gone up from Rs30 crore to Rs50 crore. Under this component, the budget for biodiversity conservation has been nearly tripled -- from Rs3.5 crore to Rs10 crore. The government has allocated Rs35 crore for conserving aquatic ecosystems, up from Rs23.5 crore in 2024-25. Funding for Project Tiger and Project Elephant which focus on protecting these animals and their habitats has been increased from Rs245 crore to Rs290 crore.