Context: India has established its 54th tiger reserve in the Karauli and Dholpur districts of Rajasthan, following approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

• This new reserve marks Rajasthan’s fifth, joining the existing reserves of Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, and Ramgarh Vishdhari.

• The Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve’s approval is seen as a significant step forward for wildlife conservation in the state.

Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan

• Ranthambore: It was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973 and became a national park on 1 November 1980.

• The number of tigers in Ranthambore has increased from 63 to 80 in two years.

• Sariska: The wildlife sanctuary was declared a national park in 1982. With a total area of about 273.8 km, the reserve is situated in the Alwar district. Tiger numbers have risen to 27 in the reserve.

• Mukundra Hills: It is situated between two parallel mountains. It was established in 2004. Now, it is the home of four tigers which has recently shifted here from the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

• Ramgarh Vishdhari: It lies in the southeastern part of Rajasthan in Bindi district with representation of both Vindhyan and Aaravalli elements.

Tiger Population in India

• The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, an annual rise of 6 per cent. (Government Data).

• States with Highest Tiger Population: Madhya Pradesh (785), Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).

• The number of tigers in Rajasthan has increased from 32 in 2006 to 88 in 2022.

National Tiger Conservation Authority

• The NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation.

Objectives

• Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives becomes legal.

• Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within our federal structure.

• Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.