What happened (announced in Mann Ki Baat)
The Prime Minister’s Office highlighted three linked environmental themes—tree planting for habitat improvement, biodiversity recovery in a protected landscape, and plastic waste recycling into durable public assets.
1) Uttar Pradesh: “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree-planting drive
The programme “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” in Uttar Pradesh is described as planting over 35 crore saplings in a single day, 12 July. The initiative’s stated framing is to connect tree planting with a “mother’s name” as a motivation for long-term legacy and awareness.
2) Gujarat: Grey Hornbill return to Gir forests
The address states that the Indian Grey Hornbill has made its abode again in the Gir forests of Gujarat after years of conservation and restoration efforts in Gir. The hornbill is described as a seed disperser: it eats forest fruits and disperses seeds, which can help new trees grow and support forest regeneration.
Related current affairs
- Namami Gange’s Jan Ganga pillar: moving from awareness to community ownership of river stewardship
- India calls for people-centric, implementation-oriented environmental action at 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting
- Mann Ki Baat English rendering: Catch The Rain campaign for water conservation
- Pact signed to set up biogas plants to utilise dairy waste
- Balod (Chhattisgarh) community-driven rainwater conservation boosts #CatchTheRain under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 2.0
- How a city’s working class is driven to the margins and made invisible