NHAI’s NH-GCI 2025-26 uses ISRO-NRSC satellite data to rank green cover on 30,000 km of highways

Direct fact

In 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) released its first annual report on the National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) for 2025-26, based on satellite analysis done with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO.

Key specifics

• The first cycle covered about 30,000 km of National Highways across 24 States.
• The assessment period mentioned in the report was July to December 2024.
• The NH-GCI is expressed as a percentage value for green cover within the Right of Way (RoW).
• The index uses high-resolution satellite sensors to detect chlorophyll content along highways.
• The NHAI-NRSC collaboration is part of a 3-year MoU signed in January 2024.

Exam lens

Environment and infrastructure current affairs, NHAI-NRSC MoU, NH-GCI percentage, 30,000 km and 24 States are the key MCQ points; TNPSC may ask which agency prepared the report and what the index measures.