Punjab Secures Best State Honour for Third Straight Year in National Green School Programme
In a remarkable achievement highlighting its commitment to environmental education, Punjab has been awarded the Best State title for the third consecutive year under the Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Green School Programme (GSP). The state led the entire country in both audit registrations and report submissions during the GSP Audit 2025–26 period.
Overwhelming Participation from Punjab Schools
An impressive total of 6,264 schools from Punjab submitted their comprehensive environmental audit reports to the programme. Among these submissions, 237 institutions earned the prestigious ‘green' rating for their exemplary sustainable practices. This represents more than 54% of all green-rated schools nationwide, showcasing Punjab's dominant performance in environmental stewardship.
Hoshiarpur Retains District Leadership
Adding to Punjab's accolades, Hoshiarpur district successfully defended its Best District title for the second straight year. The district recorded an outstanding 947 report submissions, demonstrating consistent community engagement with environmental auditing at the grassroots level.
National Participation and Performance Trends
The GSP Audit 2025–26 witnessed participation from 7,407 schools across 28 states and union territories throughout India. Punjab's contribution was particularly significant, accounting for over 84% of all submissions nationally. This overwhelming participation underscores the state's institutional commitment to environmental education.
Nationally, 6% of participating schools achieved the green rating this year, marking a notable improvement from last year's 4%. This gradual upward trend reflects growing environmental consciousness and implementation of sustainable practices across Indian educational institutions.
Government Schools Lead the Environmental Charge
An analysis of participation patterns reveals that government schools spearheaded the environmental audit movement, constituting 86% of all submissions. Private schools followed with 12% participation, while government-aided schools accounted for 1%. Geographically, over 81% of participating institutions were located in rural areas across India, indicating widespread environmental awareness beyond urban centers.
Key Findings from the GSP Audit Dashboard
The comprehensive audit data revealed several encouraging trends in sustainable practices among participating schools:
- 56% of schools utilized non-polluting modes of transportation
- 34% implemented energy-efficient lighting systems
- 73% maintained well-ventilated classrooms
- 75% employed chemical-free fertilizers in their grounds
- 31% practiced rainwater harvesting techniques
433 Schools Honored as India's Greenest Institutions
The Centre for Science and Environment formally recognized 433 schools from across India as the country's ‘greenest' institutions during the Green School Awards 2025–26 ceremony held on Friday. These awards celebrate schools demonstrating exceptional commitment to sustainable campus practices and comprehensive environmental learning.
CSE director general Sunita Narain emphasized the programme's transformative impact: "Over the years, many generations of students went through the GSP's process of learning how to audit their own environmental footprint — to measure it, benchmark it, and then work deliberately to make a difference. GSP allows us to measure change; it is visible and it can and must be celebrated."
Programme Methodology and Educational Philosophy
The Green Schools Programme represents an innovative environmental education initiative that empowers students to conduct rigorous, on-campus environmental audits of their own institutions. Through this hands-on approach, schools take ownership of their sustainability journey while receiving expert guidance from CSE professionals.
Tushita Rawat, programme manager for environment education at CSE, noted: "Our analysis finds that schools are demonstrating a clear tendency towards lower per capita resource use, limited reliance on environmentally harmful practices, and growing adoption of conservation measures."
Souparno Banerjee, senior director of environment education at CSE, added: "A school that follows sustainable practices is not simply reducing its environmental footprints; it is normalising ways of thinking and action for its students, who carry them beyond the campus, into their homes and communities."
Special Recognition for Exemplary Institutions
The awards ceremony featured several special categories honoring exceptional environmental leadership:
- Satya Bharti School, Tungaheri, Ludhiana, Punjab received the Changemaker Award in the Primary Category
- Vidya Pratishthan's New English Medium School, Pune, Maharashtra secured the Changemaker Award in the Secondary Category
- Sterling Schools Awards recognized institutions maintaining green ratings for 10 consecutive years since 2015, including Bal Bharati Public School IMT Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana, and Motilal Nehru School of Sports Rai, Sonipat, Haryana
- Shivalik Valley School in Solan, Himachal Pradesh was among schools achieving five consecutive years of green ratings
Comprehensive Criteria for Green School Recognition
According to GSP standards, a Green School must demonstrate excellence across multiple sustainability parameters:
- Implementation of sustainable transportation practices
- Maintenance of well-ventilated, energy-efficient facilities
- Sustainable management of water, waste, and land resources
- Development of ‘green' environments featuring native plant species
- Promotion of healthy food consumption patterns
- Water conservation through rainwater harvesting systems
- Responsible waste management including segregation and composting
- Strict prohibition of waste burning practices
The GSP framework enables schools to systematically assess their resource utilization and map consumption patterns across six critical areas: air quality, energy efficiency, food systems, land management, water conservation, and waste reduction. This comprehensive approach ensures holistic environmental stewardship while fostering practical learning experiences for students across India.
