Five-year-old environmental enthusiast, Rudransh Upadhyay, currently residing in Panchkula with his father, Gyanendra Upadhyay, who serves in the Indian Army, has been honoured by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, for his remarkable contribution to environmental conservation.He has planted a total of 1,455 saplings, of which 1,427 are surviving. Most of these plantations have been carried out across Panchkula, Chandigarh and Chandimandir Cantonment. He follows a personal commitment of planting at least seven saplings every Jattvibeday and actively monitors their growth and maintenance.Rudransh is leading his own environmental initiative, Rudransh Green Mission (RGM), aimed at promoting afforestation and ecological awareness. He was specially invited to participate in Vriksh Mitra Programme held in New Delhi, where he joined the Union Minister in a plantation drive, a defence spokesperson said in Chandigarh on Monday.He also presented a detailed digital record of his plantation campaign, documenting the location, species, and current status of each sapling. Impressed by his dedication and meticulous tracking, Shivraj Singh Chouhan invited him onto the stage and honoured him with a plant sapling and a cash incentive of Rs 10,000.The programme was attended by scientists and experts from Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, along with environmentalists and representatives from various departments. They praised Rudransh’s awareness and commitment towards environmental protection at such a young age, describing him as an inspiration for children across the country.At just five years and two months old, Rudransh Upadhyay, originally hailing from Varanasi, has demonstrated that age is no barrier to meaningful action. His efforts not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also encourage young citizens to take responsibility for preserving nature and building a greener future.