Former MP Santosh Kumar Honoured as ‘Global Green Icon’ at World Climate Leaders

Current Context: On 17 April 2026, former Rajya Sabha MP Joginipally Santosh Kumar was honoured as “Global Green Icon” at the World Climate Leaders Conclave, House of Lords, London.

• The award recognised his pioneering leadership in afforestation and citizen‑led environmental action.
• His flagship Green India Challenge (GIC) has planted over 196 million geo‑tagged trees across India.
• The movement, with the slogan “Hara Hai Toh Bhara Hai”, mobilised millions of students, farmers, and celebrities.
• It also installed 22,000 rainwater harvesting systems and revived thousands of community water bodies.
• These efforts contributed to an 8% increase in green cover in specific regions of India.
• The conclave highlighted GIC as a credible grassroots climate model for the Global South.

Question:

Q.1 Who was honoured as the “Global Green Icon” on 17 April 2026?
a) Joginipally Santosh Kumar
b) Prakash Javadekar
c) Bhupender Yadav
D. Amit Shah

Answer: a) Former Rajya Sabha MP Joginipally Santosh Kumar received the “Global Green Icon” award for his environmental initiatives.