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Green Credit Programme (GCP)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

It's a new, market-based government initiative promoting environmental sustainability, aligning with India's climate commitments and Mission LiFE. It represents an innovative approach to conservation and resource management, relevant for Environment, Economy, and Governance.

The Green Credit Programme is an innovative mechanism to incentivise environmentally positive actions and to promote the objectives of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, which aims at encouraging sustainable lifestyles by driving community towards behavioural changes that support environment-friendly actions. The Green Credit Programme aims to increase green cover, enhance carbon sequestration, restore degraded lands and reduce carbon footprint through the adoption of environment-friendly technologies and Practices.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Legal Basis

Notified under Green Credit Rules, 2023, which are framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Administrator

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun.

Primary Focus

Incentivizes tree plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forest lands by public and private entities.

Credit Issuance Criteria

Credits issued after a minimum of five years of restoration work and achieving 40% canopy density.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironmental Governance
Conceptual areaSustainable Development
Conceptual areaForest Conservation

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
State Forest DepartmentSelects and registers degraded forest land parcels for the programme.
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)Administrator, responsible for implementation, management, operation, and issuance of green credits.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)Notified the green credit rules, 2023, and provides overall oversight.
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions

Quick revision

  • Innovative market-based mechanism for environmental actions.
  • Notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Green Credit Rules, 2023).
  • ICFRE is the Administrator, managing credit issuance.
  • Focuses on tree plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forest lands.
  • Credits issued after 5 years of restoration and 40% canopy density.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2024Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Stateme...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2020Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2020Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2014Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Environmental GovernanceSustainable DevelopmentForest Conservation
Prelims 2014· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Open question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Open question
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Open question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Open question
Prelims 2024· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Stateme...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Open question

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: GREEN CREDIT PROGRAMME

03 Aug 2026 · A market-based mechanism under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, administered by ICFRE, designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions, primarily forest restoration, by public and private entities.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Green Credit Programme (GCP)

Often confused with

Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS)

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Green Credit Programme (GCP) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Green Credit Programme (GCP)

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

2022·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

2020·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

2020·Environment & Ecology
Solve

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

2014·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Stateme...

2024·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

2026·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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