Union Environment Minister hands over India’s first PRAMAAN certificates : GS TIMES IAS-PCS

Why in News?

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, handed over the first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS), in New Delhi.
The event was organised by the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, as the scheme’s operating agency.
PRAMAN certificates were presented to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) for its plantations over an area of 33,000 hectares, and to Shri Govind Mohapatra, a farmer associated with Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).
The certificates mark the culmination of the processes established since launch of IFWCS by the Ministry in December 2023, signifying its transition from a policy framework to field-level implementation across both forest plantations and tree-based farming.
PRAMAAN has been developed as a nationally accepted framework for certification of forests, wood and non-timber forest products.
It aims to connect certified Indian forest and agroforestry products with domestic and international markets.

Salient Features

PRAMAAN: Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of Sustainable Management Practices for Agroforestry and Natural Forestry Resources.
Promotes sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing.
Certification covers forests, wood, non-timber forest products and agroforestry systems.
Based on the Indian Forest Management Standard, incorporated in the National Working Plan Code 2023.
Certification is based on independent audits, rather than self-declaration.
Certification bodies are accredited by NABCB under the Quality Council of India (QCI).
Designed to align with international certification frameworks.
Helps Indian producers and exporters meet emerging global sustainability and deforestation-free sourcing requirements.
Enhances the social and ecological value of forests and forest-based industries.

Union Environment Minister hands over India’s first PRAMAAN certificates