Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules 2025

Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025

Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules 2025 aim to strengthen forest conservation, sustainable management, and community participation in preserving India’s green cover.

Context: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025, also referred to as the Forest Conservation Amendment Rules (FCA), 2025.

Key Provision of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025

Working Permission for Linear Projects

“Working permission” can now be granted after Stage I (in-principle) approval.

It allows mobilisation of resources and commencement of preliminary works (survey, site preparation, etc.) but excludes black-topping, road concretisation, laying of railway tracks, charging of transmission lines, etc., unless specified by the Centre.
The power to decide the scope of such works rests with the Central Government.

Clear Definitions of Approvals

Stage-I (In-Principle Approval): Preliminary approval to use forest land, subject to specific conditions.
Stage-II (Final Approval): Granted after the State Government submits a satisfactory compliance report on Stage-I conditions, following which the Central Government gives final clearance.

Offline Applications in Special Cases

Certain projects can submit applications offline rather than through the online PARIVESH portal.
This applies to projects related to defence, strategic & national importance, exceptional cases of public interest or emergency.

Special Provisions for Critical Minerals

Mining of Critical and Strategic Minerals (as per MMDR Act, 1957) will get special relaxation.
Such projects can raise compensatory afforestation over degraded forest land, at least double the diverted land area.

Compensatory Afforestation (CA) Rules Changed

Earlier: CA land had to be notified as a Protected Forest under Section 29 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
Now: This requirement is optional. Land can be either:
- Transferred and mutated as forest land in favour of the Forest Department, or
- Notified as a protected forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (or any other law).

Evolution of the Forest (Conservation) Act

Pre-1980: Forests were under the State List, leading to widespread diversion of land for agriculture, mining, and industry.
42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976): Shifted forests to the Concurrent List, giving the Centre a larger role in conservation.
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: Centralised approvals for diversion of forest land to check deforestation.
1988 Amendment: Brought stricter rules, including regulations on leasing forest land to private entities.
Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023: Focused on balancing development with ecological protection, aligned with India’s climate commitments.