CSE’s Green Schools Programme Award recognises schools that are the best managers of their natural resources within their own premises.

The Green Schools Programme or GSP was born after the 2003 Supreme Court of India judgement that mandated environmental education in Indian Schools. The programme was launched in 2005 and the first awards were given to 20 top environmentally conscious schools in 2006.

Today over 7000 schools across the country have enrolled on this programme. Using the GSP manual, these schools have been handheld to consciously work towards resource efficiency in 6 different areas, Air, Energy, Food, Land, Water and Waste. This helps schools to increase their water table, reduce electricity bills through energy conservation and gradually shift to renewable energy, segregate 100% waste at source, increase green cover, move to sustainable modes of transport etc.

The schools are strictly audited on these parameters, and awards are given to the best natural resources managers. Those schools with a long-term track record of sound environmental practices are also awarded. The state and district with the maximum number of participating schools are also awarded. This year (2024), there are 26 awards to be given in 7 categories. These categories include:
Best Green State
Best Green District
Newcomer Award
Sterling Schools Award
Changemaker Award
And GSP Ambassadors

The Green Schools Programme Awards Ceremony is an annual event, where top performers from across the country are rewarded for their enterprise and innovative skills. The objective is to not only acknowledge the effort but also to encourage more schools to come forward and take part in this movement. The Awards Ceremony is a grand affair. School children from across the country participate in various competitions, perform street plays, watch films and mingle with each other in the hope of sustained dialogue and implementation of green applications.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.