Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Saturday called for a comprehensive review of policy decisions taken over the past five decades to strengthen and modernise India’s tiger conservation framework.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Conference of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves in Alwar, the Union Minister said that with India completing 50 years of tiger conservation, it was an appropriate time to assess which policy decisions remain relevant, which have been fully implemented, and which need revision or course correction.
He suggested that decisions taken during the 28 meetings of the National Tiger Conservation Authority should be reviewed in detail and consolidated into a formal policy statement. He proposed that this exercise be placed as the first agenda item in the next NTCA meeting to ensure that tiger conservation policies remain responsive to present-day challenges.
The two-day conference is being attended by 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. Rajasthan Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma was also present at the inaugural session.
Highlighting key areas requiring focused deliberation, Shri Yadav said issues such as tiger population estimation, rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure, human–wildlife conflict, utilisation of Tiger Reserve funds, and strengthening of conservation foundations need coordinated and targeted action.
The Minister also called for the formation of four working groups to examine region-specific challenges, including changes in tiger populations, and to assess the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes across tiger reserves. He further emphasised the need for closer coordination between NTCA and institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India, Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, to ensure that research inputs translate into practical conservation outcomes.
Referring to the cheetah reintroduction programme, Shri Yadav said India has successfully carried out an international translocation of a species that had gone extinct in the country. He noted that the programme has reached its third India-born generation of cheetahs and that a new batch from Botswana is expected to arrive by the end of February.
The Union Minister also highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has launched the International Big Cat Alliance, which currently has 24 member countries. He said several international agencies have expressed interest in associating with the alliance and that the Union Budget has announced the hosting of the first Global Big Cat Summit in India.
Emphasising the growing need for strong response systems as wildlife moves beyond core forest areas, Shri Yadav said timely and professional intervention is essential in cases involving injured animals, conflict situations and orphaned cubs. He underlined the importance of developing standardised frameworks for rescue, rehabilitation and transit treatment centres around tiger reserves.
During the event, the Minister released NTCA’s outreach journal STRIPES and distributed prizes to students who participated in a painting competition organised by the National Museum of Natural History.
Over the next two days, the conference will deliberate on conservation priorities, operational challenges and emerging needs, including review of the All India Tiger Estimation 2026, protection and patrolling mechanisms, management of human–wildlife interactions, utilisation of Project Tiger funds and strengthening of Tiger Conservation Foundations.
