changeadminIndia’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr Bhupender Yadav, said that India has completed 50 years of tiger conservation and that this is an appropriate time for a comprehensive policy review.
Addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Conference of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves’ in Alwar, Rajasthan, the Minister called for a review of all policy decisions taken in the 28 meetings of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) held so far.
Setting the tone for the 2-day Conference, Mr Yadav suggested that policy decisions taken over the last five decades be consolidated into a formal policy statement, with the issue placed as the first agenda item at the next NTCA meeting.
The minister said that a review can help identify decisions that have become outdated, those that could not be implemented, and those that have been fully executed.
The initiative would help the Tiger Conservation policy adapt to current challenges and ensure the efficient implementation of conservation measures on the ground.
The conference was attended by Sanjay Sharma, Forest Minister of Rajasthan, besides senior officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, NTCA, Chief Wildlife Wardens of tiger range States, and Field Directors of tiger reserves from across the country.
Mr Yadav said issues related to tiger population estimation, rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure, human-wildlife conflict, utilisation of the Tiger Reserve Fund, and the need to strengthen tiger conservation foundations require focused deliberation.
The Conference would review the overall status of tiger conservation in the country and deliberate on key policy, management and operational issues.
Mr Yadav also called for the formation of four working groups to review region-specific challenges, including changes in tiger populations, and to assess the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes across the country’s Tiger Reserves.
Further, the Minister also asked participants to discuss ways to enhance coordination between NTCA and institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India, the Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, and the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education, so as to incorporate research inputs from these apex organisations and derive practical benefits in tiger conservation.
Highlighting the Cheetah reintroduction programme, the Minister said India has successfully carried out an international translocation of a wild species that had gone extinct in the country, with the project now reaching the third generation of cheetahs born in India. He said a new batch of cheetahs from Botswana is expected to arrive around the end of February.
Mr Yadav also said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has established the International Big Cat Alliance, which currently has 24 member countries, with several others seeking observer status.
He said that international agencies such as UNDP, IUCN, FAO, CCF, GTF, and GSLEP have also expressed interest in entering into an association with IBCA.
The Minister said that the Budget 2026 has announced that the first Global Big Cat Summit will be held in India. Through IBCA, he said, the three major global challenges – increasing warming, desertification of land and loss of biodiversity – can be addressed.
The Minister said the need for strong response systems becomes critical as tigers and other wildlife move beyond core areas. He said injured animals, conflict-related cases, orphaned cubs, and other animals in distress require timely, professional intervention, making it essential to develop a clear, standardised framework for rescue, rehabilitation, and transit treatment centres around tiger reserves.
On the occasion, the Minister also released the NTCA’s outreach journal, STRIPES, and distributed prizes to students for a painting competition organised by the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH).
Over the two days, the Conference would bring together state-level officers and field managers to discuss conservation priorities, implementation challenges, and emerging needs in an integrated manner.
The discussions would also focus on nationally important issues, including review of the All India Tiger Estimation 2026, protection and patrolling mechanisms, active management of tiger populations, rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure, management of human-wildlife interactions, utilisation of funds under Project Tiger and strengthening of Tiger Conservation Foundations.
Pending issues, such as tiger mortality cases, would also be reviewed to better align financial, administrative, and technical processes with field requirements.
The Conference would focus on facilitating direct interaction among policy, management, and field implementation levels, supporting informed decision-making, the exchange of experiences among States, and coordinated action towards national objectives for tiger conservation.
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