PIB Analysis
June 05, 2026 | Science & Technology · Environment & Ecology
Contents
01
ANRF Portal for Patent Filing & Research Capacity
GS 3
Essay
02
India’s Green Transformation — 12 Years
GS 3
GS 2
Essay
ANRF Portal for Patent Filing & Research Capacity Building
UPSC Relevance: GS Paper 3 — Science and Technology; Developments and their applications; Indigenisation of technology. Also relevant for GS Paper 2 (Governance, R&D institutions) and Essay paper (India’s innovation journey).
Key Numbers at a Glance
38thIndia’s GII 2025 rank out of 139 economies (WIPO)
6thIndia globally in patent filings — 63,000+ applications in 2024 (WIPI 2025)
0.64%India’s R&D as % of GDP vs China 2.4%, USA 3.5%, Germany 3.1%
6th yrConsecutive double-digit patent growth for India — +19.1% in 2024
60.1%Resident patent filing share in 2024, up from 28.1% in 2014
Rs 50,000 crANRF’s planned corpus; 70%+ to come from non-govt & industry sources
Issue in Brief
- Dr. Jitendra Singh announced an ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation)-supported digital portal providing structured training in patent filing and research paper writing for researchers, students, and innovators across India.
- Announced during a Joint Review Meeting of DST, DBT, DSIR, and MoES — four pillars of India’s science governance — attended by PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood and ANRF CEO Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman.
- The portal bridges a structural gap — India ranks 6th globally in patent filings (63,000+ in 2024) but its R&D expenditure at ~0.64% of GDP is far below China (2.4%) and USA (3.5%), weakening the research-to-commercialisation pipeline.
- India ranked 38th in GII (Global Innovation Index) 2025 out of 139 economies — up from 81st in 2015 — and remains the longest-running innovation overperformer for 15 consecutive years per WIPO, meaning it delivers outputs above what its income level predicts.
Static Background
- ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation) was established under the ANRF Act, 2023 as an apex body for R&D strategy, subsuming SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) established by Parliament in 2008; modelled on the NSF (National Science Foundation), USA.
- ANRF functions per the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 framework; targets a corpus of Rs 50,000 crore with over 70% from non-government and industry sources — a structural shift from purely public-funded research.
- Mission Karmayogi — the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building — is now being extended to cover scientists taking up administrative and leadership roles in R&D institutions.
- India’s IP ecosystem is governed by the Patents Act, 1970 (amended 2005), overseen by the CGPDTM (Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks).
- India is the 2nd largest STEM graduate producer globally after China, generating approximately 40,813 PhDs annually (3rd globally) — yet the research-to-patent pipeline remains structurally underdeveloped, especially in state universities.
Key Dimensions
- Capacity Building: The portal will cover scientific writing, journal publication processes, IP (Intellectual Property) protection, and patent filing procedures — democratising skills currently concentrated in elite institutions like IITs and IISc.
- Patent Ecosystem Maturity: India granted +149.4% more patents in 2023 (WIPI 2025) vs the prior year; patents in force reached 188,785, up from 76,556 in 2019 — the portal can consolidate this momentum at the grassroots level.
- Science Administration Reform: Integration with Mission Karmayogi acknowledges that scientists in leadership roles often lack governance, financial, and institutional management skills — a recognised drag on R&D productivity in India.
- Inter-Departmental Coordination: DST, DBT, DSIR, and MoES were reviewed together; institutions often conduct complementary research in silos without awareness of parallel work — a significant inefficiency in public R&D investment.
- Science Communication: A coordinated digital outreach strategy was directed across all four departments, including preparations for ESTIC 2026 to showcase India’s scientific achievements to citizens, startups, and students.
Critical Analysis
- India’s GII 2025 strengths reveal an imbalance — 1st globally in ICT services exports, 4th in late-stage VC deals, 11th in unicorn valuation — yet ranked only 52nd in Innovation Inputs, signalling weak upstream research infrastructure that the portal must address.
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee report (March 2026) found ANRF had zero fund utilisation in FY 2023–24 and 2024–25, spending only 61% of its Rs 2,000 crore budget in 2025–26 — raising serious questions about delivery capacity for new portal commitments.
- Private sector R&D contribution stands at only 36.4% of total R&D funding in India vs 70%+ in developed nations — a portal alone cannot fix this; deeper regulatory clarity on IP, industry-academia labs, and R&D tax incentives are needed simultaneously.
- The digital divide within Indian higher education — most of India’s 40,813 annual PhDs are from central institutions — means the portal’s impact will depend entirely on whether it actively reaches state universities and smaller research centres.
- No measurable KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) were announced — without tracking patents filed or papers published per portal user, it becomes impossible to audit real-world outcomes beyond the announcement stage.
Way Forward
- Make the ANRF portal multilingual and mobile-optimised, with targeted outreach to state universities and smaller research centres — where IP awareness is lowest and the marginal benefit of training is highest.
- Establish measurable KPIs — patents filed, papers published, IP assets per portal user — and publish annual progress reports, preventing a repeat of ANRF’s zero-utilisation record in its early operational years.
- Scale R&D expenditure toward 2% of GDP, deploying the Rs 1 lakh crore innovation fund (Union Budget 2025–26) within a clear 3–5 year disbursement timeline for deep-tech research at scale.
- Link the portal to AIM (Atal Innovation Mission), DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade), and SIDBI to create a seamless pathway from research training to patent filing to startup creation and commercialisation.
- Establish a permanent Inter-Departmental Scientific Coordination Cell with a dedicated secretariat across DST, DBT, DSIR, and MoES — moving beyond periodic review meetings to real-time knowledge sharing.
Prelims Pointers
ANRF Act
Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 — subsumed SERB (est. 2008)
Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 — subsumed SERB (est. 2008)
ANRF modelled on
NSF (National Science Foundation), USA
NSF (National Science Foundation), USA
GII 2025 — India
38th / 139 economies; 1st in Central & Southern Asia; 1st among lower-middle-income economies
38th / 139 economies; 1st in Central & Southern Asia; 1st among lower-middle-income economies
GII 2015 — India
81st — climbed 43 positions in a decade
81st — climbed 43 positions in a decade
India patent filings 2024
~63,000+ applications; 6th globally (WIPI 2025, WIPO)
~63,000+ applications; 6th globally (WIPI 2025, WIPO)
India R&D / GDP
~0.64% vs China 2.4%, USA 3.5%, South Korea 4.8%
~0.64% vs China 2.4%, USA 3.5%, South Korea 4.8%
Resident patent share
60.1% in 2024 — up from 28.1% in 2014 (WIPI 2025)
60.1% in 2024 — up from 28.1% in 2014 (WIPI 2025)
Mission Karmayogi
National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building — now extended to science administrators
National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building — now extended to science administrators
Exam Note: ANRF is not under the Ministry of Education exclusively — it is a multi-ministry apex body. SERB (established 2008) has been subsumed into ANRF, not abolished. ANRF’s GII 2025 rank is 38th — the 2024 rank was 39th; do not confuse the two in answers.
“India’s research output and patent filings have grown significantly, yet the research-to-commercialisation pipeline remains structurally weak. Examine the challenges facing India’s R&D ecosystem and assess the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in addressing them.”
GS Paper 3 | Science & Technology | 250 words
Q. With reference to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), consider the following statements:
1. It was established under an Act of Parliament in 2023 and subsumed the earlier Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
2. It aims to generate over 70% of its funding from non-government and industry sources
3. India’s R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP currently exceeds 2%, comparable to developed nations
Answer: (b) — 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct — ANRF Act, 2023 established ANRF and SERB was subsumed into it. Statement 2 is correct — ANRF targets over 70% non-government funding. Statement 3 is incorrect — India’s R&D is only ~0.64% of GDP, far below the 2–4% range of developed nations. The Parliamentary Standing Committee (March 2026) also found zero fund utilisation in ANRF’s first two years.
Statement 1 is correct — ANRF Act, 2023 established ANRF and SERB was subsumed into it. Statement 2 is correct — ANRF targets over 70% non-government funding. Statement 3 is incorrect — India’s R&D is only ~0.64% of GDP, far below the 2–4% range of developed nations. The Parliamentary Standing Committee (March 2026) also found zero fund utilisation in ANRF’s first two years.
Article 02
Article 02
India’s Green Transformation — 12 Years of Vishwaas, Nirman, and Jan Kalyaan
UPSC Relevance: GS Paper 3 — Environment, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation; GS Paper 2 — International Relations (climate diplomacy, ISA, CDRI, IBCA); Essay paper (India’s environmental leadership, development vs ecology).
Key Numbers at a Glance
52.57%Non-fossil installed power capacity as of Feb 2026 — target of 40% met 9 yrs early
36%+Emissions intensity reduction from 2005 levels — NDC target (33–35%) met 11 yrs early
3,682Wild tigers (2022) — India holds 70%+ of the world’s wild tiger population
99Ramsar sites as of April 2026 — 3rd globally, 1st in Asia
77%Municipal solid waste processing capacity in 2024, up from 17% in 2014
112Member countries in ISA (International Solar Alliance) — India–France initiative, COP21 2015
Issue in Brief
- A PIB (Press Information Bureau) release dated June 4, 2026 documents India’s environmental achievements over twelve years under three pillars: Vishwaas (trust in nature’s resilience), Nirman (building ecological assets), and Jan Kalyaan (public welfare through environmental security).
- India has overachieved all key NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) targets under the Paris Agreement, 2015 — emissions intensity reduction of 36%+ and non-fossil power at 52.57% — both years ahead of schedule, independently verifiable through CEA data and UNFCCC submissions.
- India has launched globally significant initiatives — ISA (International Solar Alliance), CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure), and IBCA (International Big Cat Alliance) — transitioning from a rule-follower to a rule-setter in global environmental governance.
Static Background
- Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986 — umbrella legislation for all environmental governance; Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972 — foundation law for Protected Areas, Tiger Reserves, and wildlife corridors (amended 2022).
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980 — renamed Van Sanrakshan evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 2023 — regulates forest diversion; Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 established CAMPA.
- Ramsar Convention (1971): International treaty for wetlands of global significance; India has 99 sites (April 2026) — largest in Asia, 3rd globally after UK (176) and Mexico (144).
- India is a signatory to UNFCCC, CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification), and CMS (Convention on Migratory Species).
- NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) are India’s climate pledges under the Paris Agreement covering emissions intensity, non-fossil electricity capacity, and carbon sink creation across NDC 1.0 (2015), 2.0 (2022), and 3.0 (2026).
Key Dimensions — Forests & Water
- The ISFR (India State of Forest Report) 2023 — 18th biennial report by FSI (Forest Survey of India), released December 2024 — reports forest and tree cover at 25.17% (8.27 lakh sq. km) against the national target of 33% set under National Forest Policy, 1988; forest cover alone is 21.76% (7.15 lakh sq. km) and carbon stock stands at 30.43 billion tonnes.
- CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funded afforestation of 3.20 lakh+ hectares (FY 2020–21 to 2024–25); Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) targets 1,000 urban forests by 2026–27 — 626 sanctioned with Rs 557.62 crore released as of March 2026.
- Aravalli Green Wall Initiative targets restoration of 6.31 million hectares across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Delhi; 435 nurseries with 393.24 lakh seedling capacity; 36,025 hectares restored in 2025 alone.
- Namami Gange Programme — launched June 2014 with total outlay of Rs 42,500 crore (Phase I + II) — has sanctioned 524 projects (Rs 43,030 crore); 218 STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) projects with combined capacity of 6,610 MLD (Million Litres per Day); industrial BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) load fell from 26 TPD (2017) to 10.75 TPD (2024).
- Gangetic dolphin — India’s National Aquatic Animal — estimated at 6,327 across 28 rivers; NPCA (National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems) covers 165 wetlands including 42 Ramsar sites with Rs 1,088.85 crore released; Wetlands Rules, 2017 prohibit encroachment and untreated effluent discharge.
Key Dimensions — Wildlife Conservation
- Project Tiger (launched 1973): Tiger population rose from 2,226 (2014) to 3,682 (2022); Tiger Reserves expanded from 46 to 58; area ~85,000 sq. km; India holds 70%+ of world’s wild tigers; 23 reserves hold CA|TS (Conservation Assured Tiger Standards) accreditation (December 2023); overseen by NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority).
- Project Cheetah (launched 17 September 2022): World’s first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore — 29 cheetahs from Namibia (8), South Africa (12), Botswana (9); as of March 9, 2026, total headcount reached 53 including 33 India-born cubs from 10 successful litters at Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh.
- Project Lion (announced August 2020): Asiatic lion numbers grew from 523 (2015) to 891 (2025) — over 70% increase; distribution expanded by ~59%; all Asiatic lions remain in Gir landscape, Gujarat — the world’s only wild population of Asiatic lions.
- Snow Leopards: SPAI (Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India) 2019–2023 covered 1,20,000 sq. km estimating 718 snow leopards across Ladakh, Uttarakhand, HP, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and J&K; supported by SECURE Himalaya project (UNDP + GEF, launched 2017); SPAI 2.0 initiated.
- Project Elephant: India holds ~60% of global wild Asian elephant population; first DNA-based All India Elephant Estimation counted 22,446 elephants; Reserves grew from 26 to 33; corridors expanded from 88 (2010) to 150 (2023). Rhino population grew from ~1,500 (1980s) to over 4,000 (September 2024) — ~170% growth guided by National Conservation Strategy 2019.
Key Dimensions — Waste, Coasts & Mangroves
- MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes): Mangrove cover grew from 4,628 sq. km (2013) to 4,992 sq. km (2023) — net gain of 363 sq. km; Blue Flag certified beaches grew from 8 (2020) to 18 (2025–26) across 7 coastal states and 4 UTs; National Coastal Mission extended for 2025–31 (Rs 767 crore).
- India’s MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) processing surged from 17% (2014) to 77% (2024); 1,138 legacy dumpsites remediated across 1,048 cities; 877 lakh MT of legacy waste cleared; 7,646 acres reclaimed; DRAP (Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme) launched November 2025 — targets zero dumpsites by October 2026.
- SWM Rules 2026 (Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026) supersede SWM Rules 2016 — mandate four-stream source segregation (wet, dry, sanitary, special care) and introduce EBWGR (Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility) for large establishments.
- EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) — producers responsible for end-of-life product management — covers plastic, e-waste, battery, tyre, and used oil; 417.57 lakh MT processed by 4,574 registered recyclers as of March 2026.
Key Dimensions — Climate Diplomacy
- ISA (International Solar Alliance): Jointly launched by India and France at COP21, Paris, 2015; treaty-based intergovernmental body; now 112 member countries — positions India as a global agenda-setter in clean energy transition.
- OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid) proposed by India in 2018; jointly launched with UK as Green Grids Initiative–OSOWOG at COP26 (2021) — promotes cross-border renewable energy sharing.
- CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure): Launched 2019 at UN Climate Action Summit; became an international organisation in 2022 with headquarters in New Delhi — positions India as convener of climate-resilient infrastructure globally.
- IBCA (International Big Cat Alliance): Became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation on 23 January 2025; 26 member countries; conserves 7 big cat species — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
- Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): Launched 2022 in presence of UN Secretary-General; recognised in COP27 Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan, 2022; G20 Green Development Pact adopted 9 September 2023 during India’s G20 Presidency; UNCCD COP-14 hosted by India in 2019 — adopted Delhi Declaration on LDN (Land Degradation Neutrality) by 2030; CMS COP-13 hosted in Gandhinagar, 2020.
- GCP (Green Credit Programme): Launched under Green Credit Rules, 2023, aligned with Mission LiFE; incentivises voluntary ecological actions; 4,391 hectares of degraded forest land across 12 states identified for eco-restoration as of March 2026.
Critical Analysis
- NDC overachievement is credible — emissions intensity data is verifiable through CEA and UNFCCC submissions; non-fossil capacity of 52.57% is one of India’s most credible climate accomplishments, reflecting genuine structural change in the energy mix.
- Tiger recovery is independently verified by NTCA’s All India Tiger Estimation — 3,682 tigers in 2022 representing 70%+ of the world’s wild population makes this arguably the most successful large carnivore recovery programme in history.
- India’s Ramsar site expansion from 75 (March 2023) to 99 (April 2026) is significant, but Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake remain on the Montreux Record — the Ramsar register for sites with negative ecological change — signalling that quantity growth must be matched by site-level quality improvements.
- Namami Gange’s BOD reduction from 26 to 10.75 TPD is measurable, but only Rs 21,340 crore disbursed against Rs 43,030 crore sanctioned (~50%) reveals significant implementation gaps; untreated municipal sewage from smaller towns outside STP coverage remains the dominant unaddressed pollution source.
- The forest cover 25.17% headline masks a loss of 3,656 sq. km of dense forest cover (2021–2023) per ISFR 2023 — India is gaining quantity (agroforestry, plantations) while losing ecologically valuable dense forest; the 33% target remains 8 percentage points away.
Way Forward
- Adopt independent third-party auditing of forest cover data with stricter canopy density thresholds to separate natural forests from plantations, ensuring transparent reporting aligned with global UNFCCC and FAO standards.
- Remove Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake from the Ramsar Montreux Record through targeted ecological restoration — India’s Ramsar quantity leadership must be backed by measurable site quality improvements.
- Expand Project Cheetah to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Rajasthan grasslands — reducing density pressures at Kuno and building a self-sustaining, genetically diverse population as recommended by the project’s external review panel.
- Translate NDC ambitions into sector-specific decarbonisation roadmaps for hard-to-abate sectors — steel, cement, agriculture, and shipping — which fall outside the renewable electricity metrics used to demonstrate NDC achievement.
- Scale GCP (Green Credit Programme) with voluntary carbon market linkages to incentivise citizen-driven ecological action beyond government-led conservation, and accelerate STP coverage under Namami Gange Phase III to smaller tributary towns.
Prelims Pointers
ISFR 2023
18th biennial report by FSI; forest cover 21.76%; forest + tree cover 25.17%; carbon stock 30.43 bn tonnes
18th biennial report by FSI; forest cover 21.76%; forest + tree cover 25.17%; carbon stock 30.43 bn tonnes
India Ramsar sites (April 2026)
99 — 3rd globally, 1st in Asia; Tamil Nadu leads (20 sites); Montreux Record: Keoladeo NP + Loktak Lake
99 — 3rd globally, 1st in Asia; Tamil Nadu leads (20 sites); Montreux Record: Keoladeo NP + Loktak Lake
Namami Gange
Launched June 2014; Rs 42,500 crore (Phase I+II); BOD load fell from 26 TPD (2017) to 10.75 TPD (2024)
Launched June 2014; Rs 42,500 crore (Phase I+II); BOD load fell from 26 TPD (2017) to 10.75 TPD (2024)
Project Tiger
3,682 tigers (2022); 58 Reserves; India = 70%+ of world’s wild tigers; CA|TS: 23 Reserves
3,682 tigers (2022); 58 Reserves; India = 70%+ of world’s wild tigers; CA|TS: 23 Reserves
Project Cheetah
Launched 17 Sept 2022; 29 translocated (Namibia 8, S.Africa 12, Botswana 9); 53 total; 33 India-born cubs
Launched 17 Sept 2022; 29 translocated (Namibia 8, S.Africa 12, Botswana 9); 53 total; 33 India-born cubs
Project Lion
523 (2015) → 891 (2025); +70%; Gir, Gujarat — world’s only wild Asiatic lion population
523 (2015) → 891 (2025); +70%; Gir, Gujarat — world’s only wild Asiatic lion population
Snow Leopard (SPAI 2019–23)
718 estimated; 1,20,000 sq. km covered; SECURE Himalaya (UNDP+GEF, 2017); SPAI 2.0 initiated
718 estimated; 1,20,000 sq. km covered; SECURE Himalaya (UNDP+GEF, 2017); SPAI 2.0 initiated
Project Elephant
22,446 (DNA-based); 33 Reserves; 150 corridors; India = ~60% of global wild Asian elephants
22,446 (DNA-based); 33 Reserves; 150 corridors; India = ~60% of global wild Asian elephants
MISHTI
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes; cover: 4,628 → 4,992 sq. km (+363 sq. km)
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes; cover: 4,628 → 4,992 sq. km (+363 sq. km)
ISA
International Solar Alliance; India + France; COP21 Paris 2015; 112 member countries
International Solar Alliance; India + France; COP21 Paris 2015; 112 member countries
IBCA
International Big Cat Alliance; treaty-based from 23 Jan 2025; 26 countries; 7 big cat species
International Big Cat Alliance; treaty-based from 23 Jan 2025; 26 countries; 7 big cat species
CDRI
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure; launched 2019; international org 2022; HQ New Delhi
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure; launched 2019; international org 2022; HQ New Delhi
NDC Achievements
Emissions intensity: 36%+ (target 33–35%, 11 yrs early); Non-fossil: 52.57% (target 40%, 9 yrs early)
Emissions intensity: 36%+ (target 33–35%, 11 yrs early); Non-fossil: 52.57% (target 40%, 9 yrs early)
Waste Management
MSW processing: 17% (2014) → 77% (2024); DRAP launched Nov 2025; SWM Rules 2026 — 4-stream segregation
MSW processing: 17% (2014) → 77% (2024); DRAP launched Nov 2025; SWM Rules 2026 — 4-stream segregation
Key Acts
EPA 1986 · WPA 1972 · Forest Conservation Act 1980 (renamed 2023) · Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016 · Wetlands Rules 2017
EPA 1986 · WPA 1972 · Forest Conservation Act 1980 (renamed 2023) · Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016 · Wetlands Rules 2017
Climate Diplomacy
UNCCD COP-14 (India 2019) — Delhi Declaration (LDN by 2030); CMS COP-13 (Gandhinagar 2020); G20 Green Development Pact — 9 Sept 2023
UNCCD COP-14 (India 2019) — Delhi Declaration (LDN by 2030); CMS COP-13 (Gandhinagar 2020); G20 Green Development Pact — 9 Sept 2023
Exam Notes: Asiatic lions exist ONLY in Gujarat’s Gir landscape — not across multiple states. IBCA covers 7 big cat species — not 5. Project Cheetah’s total headcount of 53 includes births and deaths — current living count is 44. The 25.17% forest cover figure includes tree cover outside forests (agroforestry, orchards) — India’s actual forest cover alone is 21.76%. Ramsar site count is 99 (April 2026) — questions may still cite outdated numbers.
“India’s conservation model integrates species recovery with landscape-level ecosystem management and proactive global diplomacy. Critically examine India’s achievements and remaining challenges in biodiversity conservation and climate governance over the past decade.”
GS Paper 3 | Environment & Biodiversity | 250 words
Q. Consider the following pairs regarding India’s Wildlife Conservation Programmes and associated facts:
1. Project Cheetah — World’s first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore; launched September 2022
2. IBCA (International Big Cat Alliance) — Covers 7 big cat species; became a treaty-based organisation on 23 January 2025
3. SPAI (Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India) — Estimated 718 snow leopards across India over 2019–2023
4. Project Lion — Asiatic lions are now distributed across multiple states of India
Answer: (a) — 1, 2 and 3 only
Pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched. Pair 4 is incorrect — Asiatic lions remain exclusively in the Gir landscape of Gujarat. While their distribution range has expanded by ~59%, this expansion is within Gujarat, not across multiple states. IBCA covers 7 big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
Pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched. Pair 4 is incorrect — Asiatic lions remain exclusively in the Gir landscape of Gujarat. While their distribution range has expanded by ~59%, this expansion is within Gujarat, not across multiple states. IBCA covers 7 big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
