Roadmap aims to expand natural resource accounting, address data gaps and strengthen links between the environment and the economy
New Delhi, October 7: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released a new strategic roadmap for environmental-economic accounting in India for 2026–2030, outlining priorities for expanding natural resource accounting, improving environmental data and strengthening the evidence base for policymaking.
Titled Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India: 2026–2030, the document builds on the ministry’s earlier strategy for 2022–2026 and identifies priority areas for developing environmental accounts, including forests, minerals, soil resources, land, water, carbon stocks, biodiversity and environment-related activities.
The strategy seeks to address existing data gaps, broaden the coverage of environmental accounts and establish an action plan with key priorities and milestones for implementation over the next four years.
MoSPI has been developing environmental accounts in line with the United Nations-endorsed System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). Since 2018, the ministry has undertaken studies and published reports covering forests, biodiversity, wetlands, ocean accounts, soil, water quality, croplands, energy, residuals, urban ecosystems and pollination services.
The earlier strategy identified Material Flow Accounts, Ocean Accounts, Energy Accounts and thematic accounts for biodiversity and urban areas as priority areas for development.
The new roadmap seeks to consolidate these efforts and extend accounting to additional subjects and strengthen existing areas. Its priorities draw on recommendations in the report Green National Account in India: A Framework and the SEEA Central Framework (SEEA-CF).
Focus on data gaps and policy applications
The strategy document provides an overview of India’s progress in environmental accounting, the initiatives undertaken by MoSPI, potential data sources and the policy implications of developing more comprehensive environmental accounts.
It also outlines action points to guide implementation, monitor progress and improve the availability and quality of data on natural resources and environmental conditions.
According to the ministry, developments under the System of National Accounts 2025, particularly the recognition of natural resource accounting within the national accounting framework, further underline the importance of environmental-economic accounting.
The proposed framework is intended to help policymakers and other stakeholders better understand the relationships between natural resources, economic activity and the environment. It is also expected to support the identification and resolution of data gaps across priority areas.
States and Union Territories can use roadmap
The strategy is also envisaged as a reference for States and Union Territories seeking to initiate or strengthen their own environmental accounting systems.
MoSPI describes the framework as an evolving guidance tool that can be adapted as accounting practices, data availability and policy requirements develop.
The ministry said the roadmap would provide direction for environmental accounting during 2026–2030, with the broader objective of strengthening India’s statistical and accounting systems and promoting a more systematic and coordinated approach to measuring environmental and economic interactions.
The discussion paper is available on the ministry’s website at www.mospi.gov.in.
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