Environmental Accounting Release
India’s Forest Environmental Accounting Progress 2025: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the 8th edition of Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025. This report was unveiled on 25 September 2025 during the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) in Chandigarh. It is the first dedicated report on forests prepared under the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) framework.
Static GK fact: India joined the United Nations in 1945 as a founding member and is an active participant in UN frameworks like SEEA.
Structure of the Report
The publication is divided into two volumes. Volume I covers national-level data on Physical Asset Accounts, Extent Accounts, Condition Accounts, and Service Accounts. Volume II provides state and Union Territory data, with details on decadal changes. Data sources include the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), Forestry Statistics 2021 by ICFRE, NCAVES report, and national accounts.
Static GK fact: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) was established in 1986 with headquarters in Dehradun.
Physical Asset Account
India’s forest cover rose by 17,444.61 sq. km (22.50%) between 2010-11 and 2021-22. Total forest area now stands at 7.15 lakh sq. km, covering 21.76% of the geographical area. The states with the largest increases were Kerala (4,137 sq. km), Karnataka (3,122 sq. km), and Tamil Nadu (2,606 sq. km).
Static GK Tip: India’s total geographical area is about 32.87 lakh sq. km.
Extent Account
From 2013 to 2023, India recorded a net rise of 3,356 sq. km in forest extent. This was mainly due to boundary reclassification and administrative adjustments. Uttarakhand saw the highest increase in Recorded Forest Area (RFA) share at 6.3%, followed by Odisha (1.97%) and Jharkhand (1.9%).
Condition Account
Growing stock, which reflects the volume of usable wood in living trees, rose by 305.53 million cubic metres (7.32%) from 2013 to 2023. Madhya Pradesh contributed the highest share with 136 million cum, followed by Chhattisgarh (51 million cum) and Telangana (28 million cum). In Union Territories, Andaman & Nicobar Islands contributed 77 million cum.
Provisioning Services
Provisioning services include timber and non-timber forest products. Their economic value increased from ₹30.72 thousand crore in 2011-12 to ₹37.93 thousand crore in 2021-22. This amounts to 0.16% of India’s GDP at current prices. The top contributors were Maharashtra (₹23.78 thousand crore), Gujarat (₹14.15 thousand crore), and Kerala (₹8.55 thousand crore).
Static GK fact: India’s GDP at current prices in 2021-22 was estimated at ₹236.65 lakh crore.
Regulating Services
Regulating services emphasize carbon retention. Their value increased by 51.82%, rising from ₹409.1 thousand crore in 2015-16 to ₹620.97 thousand crore in 2021-22. This is equivalent to 2.63% of India’s GDP at current prices. The leading states in carbon retention were Arunachal Pradesh (₹296 thousand crore), Uttarakhand (₹156.6 thousand crore), and Assam (₹129.96 thousand crore).
Static GK Tip: Arunachal Pradesh is India’s largest northeastern state with 83,743 sq. km of area.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India’s Forest Environmental Accounting Progress 2025:
| Topic | Detail |
| Report Released By | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) |
| Date of Release | 25 September 2025 |
| Event | 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) |
| Framework | UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) |
| Total Forest Area | 7.15 lakh sq. km (21.76% of India’s area) |
| Forest Increase (2010-22) | 17,444.61 sq. km |
| Growing Stock Increase | 305.53 million cubic metres |
| Provisioning Services Value | ₹37.93 thousand crore in 2021-22 |
| Regulating Services Value | ₹620.97 thousand crore in 2021-22 |
| Top Carbon Retention State | Arunachal Pradesh with ₹296 thousand crore |
