Environment & Ecology MCQs - 2026-10-21

Project Tiger, a landmark conservation program, was launched on April 1, 1973, to protect the Bengal tiger and its habitats in India. Its 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2023.

A major success and ongoing focus of Project Tiger has been the expansion and protection of tiger habitats, coupled with robust anti-poaching measures and the involvement of local communities in conservation efforts, leading to a steady increase in tiger numbers.

The latest tiger census data, released in April 2023, indicated an estimated average tiger population of 3,682 in India, showing significant progress since the inception of Project Tiger. The minimum population was 3,167.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which the National Biodiversity Strategy 2026 aligns with, sets ambitious targets to be achieved by 2030, including halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Therefore, India's national strategy would also set its primary targets for 2030.

A core principle of any national biodiversity strategy, especially one aligned with global frameworks like the GBF, is the sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. This is a fundamental aspect of biodiversity conservation.

The National Biodiversity Strategy 2026 is India's updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), designed to align its conservation goals with the global targets set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in December 2022, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.