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India, one of the world’s most biodiverse nations, has long been committed to preserving its biodiversity. The enactment of the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972 laid the foundation for the conservation, protection and management of wildlife, ensuring ecological and environmental security. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) oversees these conservation efforts, by implementing policies related to environmental protection and animal welfare. Among the key initiatives undertaken by the MoEFCC are Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) ¹ such as the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. This umbrella scheme includes Project Tiger and Project Elephant, which have served as flagship efforts in species conservation.

Project Tiger: Growth and Emerging Challenges

Project was launched on 1 April 1973 to protect India’s dwindling tiger population through central assistance to designated tiger reserves. These tiger reserves, initially 9 in number, have now expanded to 57.

Each reserve consists of:

(1) a core area where human activities like felling, grazing and movement are strictly prohibited; and

(2) a buffer zone, where limited human activity is permitted, so as to balance conservation with local livelihoods.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in 2005 through an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, providing statutory backing to the project and ensuring better oversight on its implementation.

As a result of these efforts, tiger conservation in India has witnessed progress. According to the All-India Tiger Estimation (2022), the population of tigers has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, marking an annual growth rate of 6%. However, mortality rates have also increased sharply from 127 in 2021 to 182 in 2023. Further, the Status of Tigers Report, 2022 revealed significant disparities: 16 reserves either have no tigers, male-only populations or fewer than five tigers, indicating vulnerability at the local level.  

Project Elephant: Protection Amidst Uncertainty

Project Elephant was initiated in 1992 and focuses on habitat management and mitigating the human- elephant conflict. It supports the creation and maintenance of elephant corridors- pathways that allow the animals to move safely between habitats and currently covers 33 notified elephant reserves across the country. 

India has the largest global population of wild Asian elephants with their population rising from 25,569 in 1993 to 29,964 in 2017.

However, updated population figures have been delayed. A census initiated in 2022-23, is yet to be published, reportedly due to delays in data collection in the north-east. indicate a possible decline in elephant numbers, as compared to the 2017 estimates- though it is unclear whether this is due to an actual drop or just the change in census methodology. Further, elephant deaths due to train accidents, electrocution and poaching have between 2019-20 and 2023-24, raising concerns over the adequacy of protection measures. 

Budget Allocations: Trends and Constraints

In FY 25-26, the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme received an allocation of ₹450 crore- a ₹50 crore increase (12.5%) compared to the revised estimates (REs)² of the previous year.

However, this increase should be seen with some caution. For the past 3 years allocations have been revised downward at the RE stage

Fund utilisation also varies.While FY 23-24 saw nearly 100% utilisation, the other two years saw inconsistent fund utilisation with only 81% of allocated funds being utilised in FY 22-23 and only 75% of allocated funds being utilised in FY 24-25, until 31 January 2025 (Standing Committee Report, 2025)

Meanwhile, funding specifically for Project Tiger and Project Elephant has declined over the years. Their combined allocation was ₹314 crore in FY 19-20 which dropped to ₹290 crore in FY 25-26. The FY 24-25 RE saw a ₹45 crore cut from the BE, affecting states’ abilities to implement conservation activities effectively.

Policy Shift: Merger and Its Implications

In FY 23-24, the government merged Project Tiger and Project Elephant into a single scheme under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. The rationale was to improve resource allocation, streamline activities, and adopt a more focused conservation approach.

However, the merger has been contentious. Conservationists widely opposed the move fearing it would lead to administrative confusion, delays in implementation comprising transparency and specific needs of each species. Notably, a similar merger proposal had been made in 2011 but was ultimately dropped by the MoEFCC.

The merger, along with budget reductions, has compounded existing challenges of poaching, rise in habitat degradation and human wildlife conflict. The Standing Committee Report (2025) notes the MoEFCC’s difficulties in compensating wildlife attack victims, promoting a request for an additional ₹70-80 crore in funds.

Conclusion

While India has made commendable strides in tiger and elephant conservation, recent trends point to the need for:

1. Enhanced funding and transparency allocation mechanisms for species- specific conservation
2. Stronger enforcement of laws and habitat protection; and
3. Timely population assessments

These steps are essential to sustain and deepen the gains achieved under Project Tiger and Project Elephant.

For more detailed analysis of MoEFCC’s budget trends, see our detailed budget insights!

Endnotes:

^[1]  Centrally Sponsored Schemes are schemes that are designed by the Government of India but implemented by states. The funds are shared between the Centre and States in a 60:40 ratio for most large states and 90:10 for northeast and hilly states.

^[2] These are mid-year revisions of the original budget estimates based on actual expenditures made so far in the financial year and include any supplementary grants that may be given during the year.