Desertification Day 2026: India brings 21.76 million hectares under restoration against Bonn Challenge target
On 17 June 2026 at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav marked the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and said 21.76 million hectares have been brought under restoration.
Summary
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav presided over the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026 event at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi, on 17 June 2026. Yadav said India has brought 21.76 million hectares under restoration against its Bonn Challenge target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030, that restoration has generated about 1.22 billion person-days of employment, and that the Aravalli Green Wall initiative surpassed its annual targets in FY 2025-26. The day is observed every year on 17 June under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Bonn Challenge, launched in 2011, targets bringing 350 million hectares under restoration by 2030.
Key facts
- Event
- Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi, 17 June 2026
- Observed under
- UNCCD, every 17 June
- India's restoration
- 21.76 million ha vs 26 million ha target by 2030
- Employment
- About 1.22 billion person-days
- Aravalli Green Wall
- Surpassed annual targets in FY 2025-26
- Bonn Challenge
- Launched 2011; 350 million ha by 2030
- Released
- India's Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge
Practice MCQs 4 questions
According to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on 17 June 2026, how much land has India brought under restoration against its 26 million hectare Bonn Challenge target?
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Correct answer: C — 21.76 million hectares
India has brought 21.76 million hectares under restoration against the target of 26 million hectares by 2030.
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17 June under which convention?
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Correct answer: A — UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
The day is observed every year on 17 June under the UNCCD.
Consider the following statements about the Bonn Challenge: 1. It is a global initiative launched in 2011 to restore degraded and deforested landscapes. 2. It targets bringing 350 million hectares under restoration by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as stated in the Environment Ministry release.
According to the Environment Ministry (June 2026), restoration activities in India have generated about how many person-days of employment?
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Correct answer: D — 1.22 billion
Restoration activities have generated around 1.22 billion person-days of employment.