The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change has amended guidelines under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, allowing government and private entities to undertake commercial plantations and restoration activities on forest land. These activities, when part of approved working plans, will no longer require mandatory Net Present Value (NPV) payments or compensatory afforestation. Critics, including Congress leaders, argue this facilitates forest privatization and weakens conservation safeguards, while ministry sources state it aligns with the Green Credit Programme and aims to boost restoration efforts due to import dependence.