State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 27 Sep 2025

World’s Largest Tiger Census

Why in News?

Preparations for the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 have officially started in central India, with a regional training workshop held at Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, marking the launch of the survey.

• The 2022 census reported India’s tiger population at a minimum of 3,167, constituting over 70% of the global wild tiger population.

Key Points

• Organisation: The workshop was a collaborative effort between the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• Scope: The survey will cover tiger habitats across India, using standardised protocols to ensure reliable and robust estimates of the country’s big cat population.
  • The workshop brought together 150 forest officials and field staff from multiple states, including Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The sessions trained various officials, including field directors, divisional forest officers, and range officers, on standardised tiger survey methods. 
• Technological Integration: Training included protocols for tiger monitoring, co-predator and prey assessments, and habitat evaluation.  Participants received training on using advanced tools like the STrIPES App, GPS devices, compasses, map reading, binoculars, and scat-based genetic sampling protocols.
• Methodologies: Participants were familiarised with methods for herbivore counts, vegetation and habitat assessment, and disturbance studies, emphasising the link between herbivore distribution and carnivore presence.

Tiger Census in India

• The national tiger census is done every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in partnership with state forest departments, conservation NGOs, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). 
• The census uses a double sampling method based on ground-based surveys and images from camera-traps.

6th Nadi Utsav

Why in the News?

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, inaugurated the 6th Nadi Utsav, stressing the collective responsibility of citizens to protect and conserve rivers. 

• He emphasised the Namami Gange project, which focuses on maintaining river cleanliness, preventing encroachments, and preserving sacred rivers that hold religious and cultural value.

Key Points

• Objective: The Nadi Utsav, organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture, highlighted the importance of rivers as essential lifelines and cultural reservoirs. 
  • The festival brought together various aspects of rivers, including ecological, cultural, and artistic perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of their significance.
• Event Duration: The event took place from 25th to 27th September 2025 in Delhi, offering an extensive program that included seminars, film screenings, performances, and exhibitions.
• Seminar: The seminar titled Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity delved into traditional riverine knowledge, river gods and folk narratives, and the role of rivers in art, craft practices, and science.
• My River Story: This festival segment showcased documentaries focusing on ecological issues and human connections to rivers. Featured films include Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities, River Man of India, Arth Ganga, Molai – Man Behind the Forest, Cauvery – River of Life, and Ladakh – Life along the Indus.
• Nadi Anubhav: Curated by Anuj Agarwal, this exhibition features contemporary artworks, Kalighat paintings, photographs, and poetry, all centred around rivers, blending artistic imagination with ecological awareness.