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Great Indian Bustard conservation needs more than symbolism
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
Critically Endangered, Schedule I, State bird: the Great Indian Bustard facts every Prelims species question needs
Bustard recovery depends on habitat and science-based management.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2010; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
A commentary on India's bustard conservation programme argues that efforts must go beyond symbolism and rest on sustained science and habitat protection.
The Great Indian Bustard is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Its stronghold is the Desert National Park region of Rajasthan, and it is the State bird of Rajasthan.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- Great Indian Bustard is listed Critically Endangered by the IUCN
- Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Stronghold: Desert National Park region of Rajasthan
- State bird of Rajasthan
- Also listed in CITES Appendix I and CMS Appendix I
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- The Great Indian Bustard is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- The Great Indian Bustard enjoys the highest protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- The Desert National Park region in Rajasthan is the main stronghold of the species, which is also the State bird of Rajasthan.
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS3 Environment: species conservation. Issue: bustard numbers remain critically low despite flagship status. Provision/policy: Schedule I protection, habitat safeguards and the captive breeding programme. Implication: symbolic gestures fail without sustained science-based management. Way forward: protect grassland habitat, mitigate threats in its range and back breeding with long-term monitoring.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Consider the following pairs: Protected area - Well-known for:
- Bhiterkanika, Orissa - Salt Water Crocodile
- Desert National Park, Rajasthan - Great Indian Bustard
- Eravikulam, Kerala - Hoolak Gibbon
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: B
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The Great Indian Bustard, the subject of a conservation programme, is the State bird of which State?
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Rajasthan
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: D — Correct: Rajasthan — The Great Indian Bustard is the State bird of Rajasthan, whose Desert National Park region is its stronghold. • Gujarat — wrong: Gujarat has a small remnant bustard population but its State bird is the greater flamingo. • Madhya Pradesh — wrong: Madhya Pradesh's State bird is the Asian paradise flycatcher (shahi bulbul), not the bustard. • Maharashtra — wrong: Maharashtra's State bird is the yellow-footed green pigeon, not the Great Indian Bustard.
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