Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday interacted with Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers participating in the Mid-Career Training (MCT) Phase-III programme in New Delhi, highlighting India’s conservation achievements and the need for innovative approaches to emerging environmental challenges.
Addressing officers from various state cadres, Yadav acknowledged their role in protecting India’s forests, wildlife and ecological heritage. He highlighted progress in wildlife conservation, expansion of forest and tree cover, carbon sequestration, wetland conservation and landscape restoration.
The Minister also referred to government initiatives such as Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, MISHTI, Aravalli Green Wall and Nagar Van Yojana, which aim to promote environmental conservation and public participation.
Emphasising the importance of sustainable development, Yadav said the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’ must integrate economic growth with ecological security.
He identified human-wildlife conflict, forest fires, climate change and the need to balance development with conservation as major challenges requiring scientific solutions and community participation.
Highlighting India’s diverse climatic conditions, ecosystems and biodiversity, the Minister said IFS officers must adapt to evolving challenges and assume leadership roles in forest and wildlife conservation at the grassroots level.
He described biological resources as among the planet’s most vital assets and said the training programme would provide officers with exposure to policymaking at the ministerial level alongside their experience in field-level implementation.
Yadav encouraged officers to think beyond conventional approaches and develop practical solutions to environmental challenges.
Highlighting the changing responsibilities of the Indian Forest Service, he urged officers to move beyond traditional regulatory roles and emerge as leaders, innovators and facilitators of sustainable development.
The Minister stressed the importance of adopting emerging technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI), to improve forest management and conservation planning.
He also called for continuous capacity building, stronger institutional frameworks and greater community engagement, including the use of traditional knowledge in conservation efforts.
Yadav urged officers to adopt innovative approaches to decision-making and forest management planning while fulfilling their responsibility to safeguard India’s ecological future.
Senior officials present at the interaction included Environment Secretary Narendra Bhooshan, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary Santosh Tiwari, Additional Director General of Wildlife Ramesh Pandey and Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) Director Rajendra Prasad Khajuria.
Mid-Career Training Programme 2026
The MCT Phase-III (19) programme, organised by the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, is being held from October 12 to November 6, 2026.
Designed for IFS officers with seven to nine years of service, the programme has brought together 68 participants from 18 cadres, representing diverse experience in wildlife conservation, climate-resilient forestry, habitat and landscape restoration, and environmental policy implementation.
The training aims to strengthen leadership capabilities, strategic policy implementation and forest governance while incorporating emerging technologies and contemporary management practices.
As part of the programme, the Line Ministry Module will provide participants with exposure to key central ministries and organisations to improve their understanding of inter-sectoral coordination and policy frameworks.
The programme will also include thematic visits to Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, focusing on best practices in wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism and community-based forest management.
The Management Module will cover leadership and decision-making, human resource and financial management, governance of forest commons, negotiation and conflict resolution, change management, communication and ethical leadership.
The Forestry Module will focus on emerging environmental issues, including international environmental conventions, artificial intelligence in forestry, digital transformation, wildlife leadership, biodiversity governance and climate finance.
It will also address issues related to the Forest Rights Act (FRA), watershed management, recent amendments to forest conservation legislation and human-wildlife conflict.
The programme seeks to equip mid-career IFS officers with the skills and knowledge needed to address evolving conservation challenges and strengthen sustainable forest management across the country.
-PIB
