Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-29082025-265796
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 548]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2025/BHADRA 7, 1947
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 29th August, 2025
G.S.R. 592(E). — Whereas, the Central Government enacted the Green Credit Rules, 2023 under section 3, 6
and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) vide notification number S.O. 4458(E), dated the
12th October, 2023 and was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub Section (ii);
And whereas, in pursuance of sub-rule (1) of rule 5 of the Green Credit Rules, 2023, the methodology for
calculation of Green Credit in respect of tree plantation was notified vide notification number S.O. 884(E), dated the
22nd February, 2024 and was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub Section (ii), dated
the 22nd February, 2024;
And whereas, sub-rule (1) of rule 5 of the said rules provides that the Central Government shall, on the
recommendation of the Administrator, notify the methodology for calculating the Green Credit in respect of any activity
taken under those rules;
Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of rule 5 of the Green Credit Rules, 2023 and in
supersession of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification number S.O. 884(E), dated the
22nd February, 2024, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central
Government, on the recommendation of the Administrator, hereby notifies the following methodology for calculating
the Green Credit in respect of tree plantation activity, namely:-
1. On completion of minimum five years of restoration activities in the degraded forest land parcel(s), and after
achieving a minimum canopy density of forty per cent (40% canopy density), the applicant shall be eligible to
submit a claim report in the format specified by the Administrator for award of Green Credit and applicant
shall be liable to pay the verification fee as specified by the Administrator in consultation with the Central
Government.
2. The Green Credit shall be calculated based on the vegetation status including the change in the canopy density
and the number of surviving trees.
3. The minimum canopy density of forty per cent shall have to be achieved in the degraded forest land parcel for
issuance of Green Credit and one Green Credit shall be awarded for each new tree of the age more than five
years.
4. On receipt of the claim report, the Administrator, based on the evaluation and verification of the forest
restoration activity through designated agencies, may generate and issue Green Credit to the applicant, as may
be applicable, based on the criteria laid down in paragraphs 1 to 3.
5. The Green Credit generated for compensatory afforestation or tree plantation under the Green Credit
programme activity shall be non-tradable and non-transferable except for the transfer between the holding
company and its subsidiary companies.
6. The implementation modalities for land parcels, where payment against the demand raised by the Administrator
was deposited by the applicant and recorded in the Green Credit portal (https://www.moefcc-gcp.in/) in
accordance with the notification number S.O. 884(E) dated the 22nd February, 2024, shall continue to be
governed by that notification and the calculation of Green Credit and its usage shall be based on the criteria
laid down in this notification.
7. The Green Credit generated under the Green Credit Programme may be exchanged once, for any of the
following purposes, namely: -
a. to meet the compliance of the compensatory afforestation in cases related to diversion of forest land for non-
forestry purposes as laid down under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 (69 of 1980)
and the rules and guidelines framed thereunder;
b. to meet the requirement under the corporate social responsibility, as per the provisions of any law for the time
being in force, based on cost incurred towards forest restoration activities;
с. to meet the requirement of plantation of trees to fulfil the obligations in compliance of the approval of the
project/activity being undertaken by the applicant person or entity as per the provisions of any law for the time
being in force.
8. Once the Green Credit is exchanged for any of the purpose mentioned above, it shall be deemed to have been
extinguished to the extent such Green Credit has been used and to that extent it cannot be used again.
9. The Green Credit generated in lieu of tree plantation under the said Rules may be used for reporting under
environmental, social and governance leadership indicator as per the provisions of any law for the time being
in force.
10. The implementation modalities under the Green Credit Programme shall be as specified by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change from time to time.
[F. No. HSM-12/135/2025-HSM]
NAMEETA PRASAD, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. Digitally signed by SARVESH
KUMAR SRIVASTAVA
SRIVASTAVA
Date: 2025.08.29 22:59:06