Minister Advocates Science-Based Tiger Conservation and Addresses Human-Wildlife Conflict

सही उत्तर: A

Statement 1 is correct. The All India Tiger Estimation is indeed conducted quadrennially (every four years) and is overseen by the NTCA. The recent news mentions the launch of its 6th cycle. Statement 2 is correct. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 and is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, providing financial assistance to tiger range states for in-situ conservation. Statement 3 is incorrect. The 'Management of Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves' project aims to manage tiger populations that exist in areas beyond the formally designated Tiger Reserves, often in human-dominated or fragmented landscapes, rather than solely creating new reserves. It focuses on corridor management, conflict mitigation, and community engagement in such areas.

सही उत्तर: A

Statement 1 is correct. Project Elephant was launched in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to protect elephants, their habitats, and corridors, and to address human-elephant conflict. Statement 2 is correct. The project also focuses on the welfare of captive elephants, including their health care and management, as highlighted by the recent review mentioning DNA profiling for captive elephants. Statement 3 is incorrect. While elephant accident zones along railway tracks are identified, their management requires close coordination between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (through state forest departments) and the Ministry of Railways, but it is not under the direct and sole supervision of the Ministry of Railways. The news explicitly calls for better coordination between railway authorities and forest departments, indicating shared responsibility and the need for collaborative efforts.

सही उत्तर: C

A) Providing ex-gratia payments and compensation is a common strategy to mitigate HWC, addressing the economic losses faced by affected communities. This is correct. B) Promoting community-based conservation and awareness is crucial for long-term coexistence and is a widely adopted strategy. This is correct. C) Mandatory relocation of *all* human settlements from wildlife corridors and buffer zones is generally not a typical or feasible strategy. While voluntary relocation programs exist (e.g., under Project Tiger), mandatory and blanket relocation is highly complex, often resisted, and not a universal approach due to socio-economic implications and human rights concerns. The focus is often on managing conflict in shared spaces rather than complete separation. This statement describes a strategy that is NOT typically adopted as a blanket rule. D) Implementation of early warning systems (e.g., using technology like sensors) and rapid response teams is an effective and increasingly adopted strategy to prevent and manage conflict incidents. This is correct. Therefore, option C is the correct answer as it describes a strategy that is NOT typically adopted in its entirety.

सही उत्तर: B

Pair 1 is correctly matched. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is the primary legislation for the protection of wildlife and provides for the establishment and management of protected areas like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Pair 2 is correctly matched. The NTCA is indeed a statutory body constituted under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2006), and functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. While the All India Tiger Estimation is conducted quadrennially (every four years), the All India Synchronized Elephant Estimation is typically conducted every five years, not four. The news mentions its review, but the frequency is a key detail.