Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav on February 7, 2026, chaired the Conference of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves in Alwar, Rajasthan, and called for a comprehensive review of policy decisions taken over the past five decades of India’s tiger conservation journey. Emphasising the need for zone-wise mapping of challenges and focused policy recalibration, the Minister said this exercise is essential to ensure effective implementation of conservation measures on the ground.
50 Years of Tiger Conservation: Time for a Policy Reset
Addressing the inaugural session as Chief Guest, Shri Yadav noted that India has completed 50 years of tiger conservation, making it an appropriate moment to reassess and consolidate policy directions. He called for a review of all decisions taken in the 28 meetings of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to identify measures that have become outdated, those that could not be implemented, and those that have been successfully executed.
He suggested that key policy decisions taken over the last five decades should be consolidated into a formal policy statement, and proposed that this issue be placed as the first agenda item in the next NTCA meeting.
The conference was attended by Shri Sanjay Sharma, Forest Minister, Government of Rajasthan, senior officials from 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.
Key Issues: Population Estimation, Conflict Management and Fund Utilisation
Shri Yadav said that several critical areas require focused deliberation, including:
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Tiger population estimation,
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Rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure,
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Human–wildlife conflict management,
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Utilisation of the Tiger Reserve Fund, and
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Strengthening the institutional foundations of tiger conservation.
He said the two-day conference would review the overall status of tiger conservation in the country and deliberate on key policy, management and operational challenges facing tiger reserves.
Region-Specific Strategies and Stronger Institutional Coordination
The Minister 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 tiger reserves.
He also urged participants to explore ways to enhance coordination between NTCA and leading scientific institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), so that research inputs can be translated into practical conservation outcomes.
Cheetah Reintroduction and Global Big Cat Cooperation
Highlighting 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, with the project now reaching the third India-born generation of cheetahs. He added that a new batch of cheetahs from Botswana is expected to arrive around the end of February.
He also noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has established the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), which currently has 24 member countries, with several others seeking observer status. International organisations such as UNDP, IUCN, FAO, CCF, GTF and GSLEP have also expressed interest in partnering with the IBCA. He further announced that the Union Budget has declared that the first Global Big Cat Summit will be held in India.
Strengthening Rescue, Rehabilitation and Response Systems
The Minister stressed that as tigers and other wildlife increasingly move beyond core areas, the need for strong response systems becomes critical. He said that injured animals, conflict-related cases, orphaned cubs and stressed wildlife require timely and professional intervention, making it essential to develop a clear and standardised framework for rescue, rehabilitation and transit treatment centres around tiger reserves.
On the occasion, Shri Yadav also released NTCA’s outreach journal ‘STRIPES’ and distributed prizes to students for a painting competition organised by the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH).
Focus Areas of the Two-Day Conference
Over the two days, state-level officers and field managers will discuss conservation priorities, implementation challenges and emerging needs in an integrated manner. The deliberations will focus on:
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Review of All India Tiger Estimation 2026,
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Protection and patrolling mechanisms,
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Active management of tiger populations,
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Rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure,
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Management of human–wildlife interactions, and
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Utilisation of funds under Project Tiger and strengthening of Tiger Conservation Foundations.
Pending issues such as tiger mortality cases will also be reviewed to better align financial, administrative and technical processes with field requirements.
Conclusion
The Alwar conference marks a crucial step in recalibrating India’s tiger conservation strategy at a landmark moment of 50 years of Project Tiger. By calling for a comprehensive policy review, region-specific strategies and stronger institutional coordination, Shri Bhupender Yadav has set the stage for a more adaptive, science-driven and field-responsive approach to conserving India’s iconic big cat and its ecosystems in the decades ahead.
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Source: PIB
