Forest cover assessment in India is being carried out using satellite remote sensing for more than two decades. In the present study an attempt has been made to map forest cover of Central India on 1 : 50000 scale using satellite data of 1970s. While compiling the data of forest cover (from 1991-2001) of the Central India Zone from Forest Survey of India, the apex body of forest monitoring in India and comparing it with the area calculated form the present study, it has been realized that there is no regular trend in the forest cover percentage from 1970s till 2001.