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What happened
On World Wildlife Day (March 3), PM Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to wildlife conservation. The occasion, established by the UN in 2013 to mark CITES signing date in 1973, spotlights India's record: 54 tiger reserves, 18 biosphere reserves, 106 national parks, and 573 wildlife sanctuaries. India hosts over 7% of global biodiversity despite covering only 2.4% of Earth's land area. Project Tiger (1973) and Project Elephant (1992) remain flagship conservation programmes under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
02 Understand
Why it matters
World Wildlife Day is observed every March 3 — the date CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) was signed in 1973 in Washington D.C. The UN General Assembly designated this day in December 2013. This is the static hinterland examiners test.
India's conservation architecture rests on several pillars. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 provides the legal backbone, classifying species into six schedules — Schedule I affords the highest protection. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 implements the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national level, with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) as the nodal body headquartered in Chennai.
Project Tiger, launched in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act, is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). India's 2022 tiger census counted 3,167 tigers — making India home to approximately 75% of the world's wild tiger population. Project Elephant, launched in 1992, covers 33 elephant reserves.
For IUCN Red List classifications, the examiner frequently tests species-specific statuses: Lion-tailed Macaque (Endangered), Snow Leopard (Vulnerable), One-horned Rhinoceros (Vulnerable), Great Indian Bustard (Critically Endangered). India has 18 Biodiversity Hotspots overlapping two of the world's 36 recognised hotspots — the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka and the Himalayas (Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayas clusters).
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal ministry for all wildlife and biodiversity matters.
India's conservation architecture rests on several pillars. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 provides the legal backbone, classifying species into six schedules — Schedule I affords the highest protection. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 implements the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national level, with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) as the nodal body headquartered in Chennai.
Project Tiger, launched in 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act, is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). India's 2022 tiger census counted 3,167 tigers — making India home to approximately 75% of the world's wild tiger population. Project Elephant, launched in 1992, covers 33 elephant reserves.
For IUCN Red List classifications, the examiner frequently tests species-specific statuses: Lion-tailed Macaque (Endangered), Snow Leopard (Vulnerable), One-horned Rhinoceros (Vulnerable), Great Indian Bustard (Critically Endangered). India has 18 Biodiversity Hotspots overlapping two of the world's 36 recognised hotspots — the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka and the Himalayas (Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayas clusters).
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal ministry for all wildlife and biodiversity matters.
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