Project Tiger

What is Project Tiger?

Project Tiger is India's flagship wildlife conservation programme launched on 1 April 1973 by the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was launched at Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand — the first tiger reserve in India. The project aimed to ensure the survival of the Bengal tiger by protecting its habitat, curbing poaching, creating a network of inviolate core areas, and maintaining viable tiger populations across the country.

The project is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), constituted in 2005 under Section 38L of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force set up after the devastating Sariska tiger crisis (where the entire tiger population was found to have been poached). Initially covering 9 tiger reserves spanning 9,115 sq km, Project Tiger has expanded dramatically over five decades to become the world's largest and most successful tiger conservation programme.

India is home to approximately 70% of the global wild tiger population. The tiger population, which had declined to a critical low of 1,411 in 2006 (the first camera-trap-based census), recovered to 3,682 in the 2022 census — a remarkable 161% increase demonstrating the effectiveness of sustained habitat protection, anti-poaching operations, and community participation.

Key Features

Current Status / Latest Data

• As of 2025, India has 58 tiger reserves across 18 tiger-range states, covering approximately 84,500 sq km. The latest addition is Madhav Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, declared in 2025.
• The 6th All India Tiger Estimation (2026 census) began in early January 2026, involving thousands of forest staff, volunteers, and wildlife experts. It is the world's largest wildlife monitoring exercise, with the final report expected by July 2027.
• India's tiger population is projected to increase by approximately 10% in the new census, though experts warn tigers are "running out of space" due to habitat fragmentation.
• Key ongoing challenges include human-tiger conflict (increasing as tigers disperse beyond reserve boundaries), securing wildlife corridors, encroachment on buffer zones, and poaching driven by illegal wildlife trade.
• The International Tiger Day (29 July) and the St. Petersburg Declaration (2010) set the global goal of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022 — a target that India has significantly contributed to achieving.
• Project Tiger's budget has been significantly increased, with Rs 3,000+ crore allocated in the 2024-25 Union Budget for tiger conservation and habitat management.
• The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) and the St. Petersburg Declaration (2010) set the global TX2 goal of doubling wild tigers by 2022 — India was the primary contributor to this achievement.
• Tiger corridors connecting reserves are critical for genetic diversity; key corridors include Kanha-Pench, Bandipur-Nagarhole, and Corbett-Rajaji.
• The relocation of villages from core tiger habitats remains a sensitive issue, balancing tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act with conservation imperatives.
• India's tiger conservation model has been internationally recognized, with countries like Cambodia and Kazakhstan seeking to learn from India's experience for tiger reintroduction programmes.
• Each tiger reserve has a core zone (critical tiger habitat, no human activity) and a buffer zone (limited, regulated human activity) as mandated by the NTCA guidelines.

UPSC Exam Corner

Prelims: Key Facts

• Launched 1 April 1973 at Jim Corbett National Park by PM Indira Gandhi
• NTCA constituted in 2005 under Wildlife (Protection) Act (Section 38L)
• 58 tiger reserves as of 2025; covering ~84,500 sq km
• Madhya Pradesh has the most reserves (9) and highest tiger population (785)
• Tiger population: 1,411 (2006) → 3,682 (2022) — 161% increase
• India has ~70% of global wild tiger population
• M-STrIPES is the monitoring tool used in tiger reserves
• Initial 9 reserves in 1973; now 58 across 18 tiger-range states
• Latest reserve: Madhav Tiger Reserve, MP (2025)
• 6th All India Tiger Estimation began January 2026; results expected July 2027

Mains: Probable Themes

1. Project Tiger as a model for species-specific conservation — successes over 50 years
2. Human-tiger conflict and the critical need for corridor connectivity between reserves
3. Role of technology (camera traps, AI-based identification, M-STrIPES) in modern tiger monitoring
4. Balancing tribal and community rights (Forest Rights Act) with inviolate core habitat protection
5. India's contribution to the global TX2 goal (doubling tiger numbers by 2022)

Why It Matters for UPSC

Project Tiger is a perennial UPSC favourite across Prelims, Mains, and even Essay. Prelims test launch year, number of reserves, tiger population figures, and NTCA details. Mains questions explore the programme's success as a conservation model, human-wildlife conflict, tribal rights vs conservation, and the role of technology in monitoring. India's global leadership in tiger conservation and the TX2 goal are excellent examples for essays on environmental success stories.

Sources: NTCA Official Website, Wikipedia — Tiger Reserves of India, The Print — Tiger Census 2026, Big Cats India — Project Tiger