Environmental sustainability must remain at core of development pathway: Minister

India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stressed the importance of environmental sustainability in the country's development pathway, highlighting progress in climate-change mitigation and conservation efforts.

As India moves steadily towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat, environmental sustainability must remain at the core of its development pathway, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.

He made the comments during his address to the participants of the mid-career training programme of the Indian Forest Service.

The minister said a forest officer's responsibility never ends, even after superannuation, as they continue to be the voice of the voiceless flora and fauna.

During the event, Yadav highlighted India's progress in climate-change mitigation, achieving NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) targets ahead of schedule, improvements in forest and wildlife governance systems, and the use of advanced technologies for environmental management.

He also spoke about cheetah conservation, great Indian bustard conservation through artificial incubation, the role of tiger reserves in sustaining river systems and the importance of balancing conservation with development.

The event was also attended by Minister of State Kirtivardhan Singh, who noted India's leadership in global conservation diplomacy and stressed the importance of balancing development with conservation.