Van Mahotsav Tree Plantation Campaign

Van Mahotsav is India’s annual week-long tree plantation festival observed from 1 July to 7 July. The campaign began in 1950 under K.M. Munshi, then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food, to promote tree planting and tree protection.

Van Mahotsav in India

Van Mahotsav is also called the “festival of forests” in India. It is observed across states and Union Territories through plantation drives, awareness activities, and sapling distribution programmes.

2026 Observance and State-Level Drives

The 2026 observance runs from 1 July to 7 July. On 1 July 2026, the 77th Van Mahotsav began in several districts of Manipur, where the Forest Department set a target of about 15 lakh saplings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0 initiative. Assam launched the Van Mahotsav campaign on 1 July 2026, and the Delhi government planned a phased plantation drive for 70 lakh saplings with live telecasts from 50 locations from 7 July 2026.

Forest Cover and Plantation Context

India’s forest and tree cover stood at 25.17% of the geographical area in the India State of Forest Report 2023. The total forest and tree cover was 827,357 square kilometres, with an increase of 1,445 square kilometres since 2021.

Important Facts for Exams

• Van Mahotsav was launched in 1950 by K.M. Munshi.
• Van Mahotsav is observed every year from 1 July to 7 July.
• Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 was used during the 2025 observance of Van Mahotsav.
• The India State of Forest Report 2023 was released in December 2024.