Centre Approves ₹3,000 Crore Scheme to Conserve 15,000 Sacred Groves

Key Facts

• Scheme Name: Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana
• Approval Date: 10 July 2026
• Total Budget: ₹3,000 crore
• Duration: 5 years (2026-27 to 2030-31)
• Number of Sacred Groves Covered: Nearly 15,000
• Fund Source: National CAMPA Fund
• Approving Authority: 7th Governing Body meeting of CAMPA held in Coimbatore, chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav
• Supreme Court Directive Date: 18 December 2024
• Additional Initiative: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes extended until 2029 with an additional ₹500 crore

Background & Context

Sacred groves, locally termed as 'Aastha Vans' under the new scheme, consist of forest patches traditionally protected by local communities for religious, spiritual, and cultural reasons. These groves are distributed across various regions of India and serve as critical conservation sites due to their rich biodiversity and ecological importance.

The Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana aligns with larger forest restoration and compensatory afforestation efforts managed by the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The approval came during CAMPA's 7th Governing Body meeting in Coimbatore, where the focus was on combating land degradation and biodiversity loss.

Importantly, the scheme was initiated following a Supreme Court directive issued on 18 December 2024 in a case concerning sacred groves in Rajasthan, mandating the central government to ensure their protection. This judicial directive underscores the ecological and cultural significance of such groves and integrates traditional conservation practices into modern environment governance.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

The Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana is a significant contemporary environmental policy highlighting the integration of India's traditional ecological heritage with formal government restoration schemes. Knowledge of this scheme is pertinent for competitive exams focusing on Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity, and Indian Polity and Governance due to:

• The involvement of the National CAMPA Fund in financing forest conservation.
• The role of judicial directions (Supreme Court's 2024 verdict) influencing government policy.
• The bridging of cultural practices (sacred groves protection) with biodiversity conservation initiatives.
• The scheme's linkage with ongoing mangrove conservation efforts.

Points to Remember

• The scheme was approved on 10 July 2026 with a budget of ₹3,000 crore.
• It targets conservation and restoration of nearly 15,000 sacred groves across India over five years (2026-27 to 2030-31).
• The programme is funded by the National CAMPA Fund and was approved during CAMPA's 7th Governing Body meeting chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
• The scheme implements the Supreme Court directive dated 18 December 2024 regarding sacred groves' protection.
• Sacred groves are vital for biodiversity conservation, soil protection, water retention, and preserving cultural and spiritual values.
• The scheme runs alongside other environmental initiatives like the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, which was extended until 2029 with an added budget of ₹500 crore.