The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is an institution of the Government of India, serving as the central government's nodal agency for environmental and forestry policies. Its origin traces back to the creation of the Department of Environment in 1980, which was later upgraded to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985. This institutionalization was driven by a growing national and global awareness of environmental protection and the need for a comprehensive approach to environmental management. The Ministry was renamed in May 2014 to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, reflecting the increased importance of climate policy in national discourse.
The MoEFCC works by planning, promoting, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry programs. Its mechanism involves administering key legislation, including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A core function is granting environmental clearances for developmental projects after conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Ministry connects to related institutions like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Board for Wildlife. It is also the cadre controlling authority for the Indian Forest Service (IFS).
Recently, the Ministry has been involved in significant legislative changes, such as the Forest Conservation Rules, 2022, brought in under the 1980 Forest Conservation Act. These rules changed the process for granting permits for converting forest land to non-forest purposes, effectively removing the requirement for Gram Sabha (village council) consent before the central government grants a forest clearance. Additionally, the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 (rebranded as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam), confined protection only to lands notified under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, or recorded in government records on or after October 25, 1980. The Ministry also facilitates India's commitments under international agreements like the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).