India Launches PRAMAAN Forest Certification Scheme with First Certificates Awarded
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav handed over India's first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS) on September 29, 2026. The certificates were presented to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) for its plantations covering 33,000 hectares and to a bamboo farmer associated with the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).
The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, serves as the scheme's operating agency, and the certification process involved rigorous field and management audits before approval. This marks the transition of IFWCS from a policy framework launched in December 2023 to actual field-level implementation across both forest plantations and tree-based farming systems.
Certification Framework and International Alignment
PRAMAAN (Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry And Natural forestry resources) is designed as a nationally accepted certification framework for forests, wood, and non-timber forest products. The forest management certification is assessed against the Indian Forest Management Standard, which is part of the National Working Plan Code 2023. The core principle relies on independent audits by certification bodies accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) under the Quality Council of India, rather than self-declaration alone.
The accreditation architecture is benchmarked against international certification frameworks, ensuring that certificates issued under the scheme carry recognition from both domestic and global buyers and regulators. This positioning is crucial for Indian producers, exporters, and forest-based enterprises to meet emerging global regulatory requirements, including due-diligence and responsible deforestation-free timber sourcing norms adopted by major international markets.
Economic and Livelihood Implications
The scheme serves as both a trade instrument and a livelihood mission, aiming to bring rural and tribal communities, small holder farmers, and forest-dependent communities into a structured certification system. It opens new income pathways to compliant and premium markets without adding significant compliance burden on producers. Specific beneficiaries include women Self Help Groups and marginal landholders engaged in NTFP collection and processing, farm and agroforestry, and any tree-based agriculture system.
Several State Forest Departments, Forest Development Corporations, farmers, and industries have already applied for Forest Management, Tree Outside Forest Management, and Chain of Custody certification, with applications in various stages of processing. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vocal for Local and Act Global' and reflects India's broader journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047, combining economic growth with ecological stewardship.