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 & State-Level Drives

The 2026 observance runs from 1 July to 7 July. On 1 July 2026, the 77th Van Mahotsav began across several districts of Manipur, with the Forest Department targeting about 15 lakh saplings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0 initiative.

  • Manipur: 77th Van Mahotsav; ~15 lakh saplings under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0.
  • Assam: launched the Van Mahotsav campaign on 1 July 2026.
  • Delhi: phased drive for 70 lakh saplings with live telecasts from 50 locations from 7 July 2026.

🌲 Forest Cover & Plantation Context

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

📌 Key Points (Important Facts for Exams)

• Van Mahotsav was launched in 1950 by K.M. Munshi.
• It is observed every year from 1 July to 7 July (“festival of forests”).
• 2026 marks the 77th Van Mahotsav.
• Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 was used during the 2025 observance; 3.0 in 2026.
• India State of Forest Report 2023 (released Dec 2024): forest & tree cover 25.17%.

🎯 Conclusion

Van Mahotsav remains India’s flagship annual afforestation movement, mobilising states, communities and schools to plant millions of saplings, raise environmental awareness and expand the country’s green cover.

📝 Practice MCQs

Q1. Van Mahotsav is observed every year during which period?

a) 1–7 June
b) 1–7 July
c) 1–7 August
d) 1–7 September
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) 1–7 July.

Q2. Van Mahotsav was launched in 1950 by:

a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) K.M. Munshi
c) Sardar Patel
d) Rajendra Prasad
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) K.M. Munshi.

Q3. Van Mahotsav is popularly known as the:

a) Festival of rivers
b) Festival of forests
c) Festival of harvest
d) Festival of lights
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Festival of forests.

Q4. The 2026 Van Mahotsav observance is the:

a) 75th
b) 76th
c) 77th
d) 78th
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (c) 77th.

Q5. In Manipur, saplings were planted under which initiative?

a) Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0
b) Green India Mission
c) Nagar Van Yojana
d) CAMPA
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (a) Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0.

Q6. As per ISFR 2023, India’s forest and tree cover is what percentage of geographical area?

a) 21.71%
b) 24.62%
c) 25.17%
d) 33%
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (c) 25.17%.

Q7. K.M. Munshi, who launched Van Mahotsav, was then the Union Minister for:

a) Environment
b) Agriculture and Food
c) Home Affairs
d) Education
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) Agriculture and Food.

Q8. Delhi planned a phased plantation drive in 2026 for how many saplings?

a) 15 lakh
b) 50 lakh
c) 70 lakh
d) 1 crore
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (c) 70 lakh saplings.

Q9. The India State of Forest Report 2023 was released in:

a) December 2023
b) December 2024
c) July 2025
d) January 2026
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) December 2024.

Q10. India’s total forest and tree cover (ISFR 2023) is approximately:

a) 7,00,000 sq km
b) 8,27,357 sq km
c) 9,50,000 sq km
d) 10,00,000 sq km
👉 SHOW ANSWER ▼
✔ Correct Answer: (b) 8,27,357 square kilometres.

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