What is the Green Credit Programme?

The Green Credit Rules, 2023 were published in the Gazette of India as notification S.O. 4458(E), dated 12 October 2023, under sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. A draft had been published for public comment on 26 June 2023 (S.O. 2779(E)). The Prime Minister launched the Green Credit Initiative on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai in December 2023 (PIB, year-end review 2023).

The Rules define a green credit as "a singular unit of an incentive provided for a specified activity, delivering a positive impact on the environment". Taking part is voluntary. The government links the programme to Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), its movement for greener everyday choices.

Rule 4 lists the kinds of activity that may earn green credits:

• tree plantation, to increase green cover;
• water management, including water harvesting, saving water and reusing treated wastewater;
• sustainable agriculture, including natural and regenerative farming and land restoration;
• waste management, including collection, segregation and safe handling;
• air pollution reduction;
• mangrove conservation and restoration;
• ecomark label development, to encourage eco-labelled goods and services;
• sustainable building and infrastructure.

A methodology has to be notified for each activity before credits can be earned for it. As of October 2026, the government describes only one as operational: tree plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forest land (Green Credit Programme FAQ; PIB, 16 March 2026).