July 12, 2026 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the rapid growth of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, calling it a mass movement essential for Earth’s habitability.
Key Developments
- Delhi Ridge to receive 1 crore saplings with legal protection, announced by Shah.
- Central Paramilitary Forces completed planting 7 crore trees over seven years.
- Recent addition of 43 lakh trees in the Delhi Ridge area.
- Inauguration of 61 new oxygen parks in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, raising the total to 73.
- Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) inaugurated 101 oxygen parks in a single day.
- Shah pledged to raise green cover in Gandhinagar by 20% by 2029, building on an existing 11.23% increase.
- Push for universal rooftop solar panels across homes, flats and eateries.
Important Facts
The newly planted trees are species such as banyan and peepal, chosen for their longevity (≥100 years) and ability to support avian biodiversity. Through the AMC’s online drive, 1,37,812 volunteers registered to plant five saplings each, and 28,544 senior citizens pledged two trees each.
By the end of the campaign, a total of 1,25,93,513 trees are expected to be rooted in the Gandhinagar constituency.
Exam Relevance
This news touches on several UPSC themes:
- Environ