National Tiger Conservation Authority
In one line: The NTCA is a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 that oversees Project Tiger and India's tiger reserves.
Origins
Project Tiger began in 1973 with nine reserves. After tigers vanished from Sariska, a Tiger Task Force set up in 2005 recommended stronger institutions, and the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 created the NTCA through a new chapter in the 1972 Act. The Union Environment Minister chairs it.
What it does
The NTCA approves the tiger conservation plans that States prepare, lays down standards for tourism and protection, runs the all-India tiger estimation with the Wildlife Institute of India, and issues protocols for actions such as translocating tigers.
Why it is in the news
The Buxa release follows NTCA protocols, with radio collars and camera traps for monitoring.
Where to go next
- Core and buffer zones of a tiger reserve
- Tiger translocation in India
National Tiger Conservation Authority in the news
- Centre sends NTCA-WCCB team after Kuno cheetah cub dies of gunshot pellet injuries 29 October 2026
The statutory body that runs Project Cheetah's technical side
- Why Buxa is bringing tigers back: a tigress from Bihar starts West Bengal's reintroduction 6 October 2026
The statutory body that sets the rules for tiger reserves.
Previous-year questions on this
- 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Discuss the aim and goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Mention India's commitments and initiatives to achieve the goals and targets of this framework, giving suitable…
- 2018 · GS3 · 15 marks How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna?
- 2020 · Prelims Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under "Critical Tiger Habitat"? (a) Corbett (b) Ranthambore (c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (d) Sunderbans