Merger of Project Tiger and Project Elephant
- The two projects, Project Tiger and Project Elephant, have been officially merged.
This topic of “Merger of Project Tiger and Project Elephant” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.
Highlights
- The merger creates a new division called Project Tiger and Elephant Division, which will operate under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Project Tiger had completed its 50th anniversary after being launched in 1973.
- Project Elephant had completed 30 years in 2022 and has been a division under the Environment Ministry since its creation.
Common Allocation
- Both projects will be funded jointly under the new division.
Staff and Divisional Heads
- Project Elephant (PE) will now report to the Additional Director General of Forests (ADGF).
- Project Tiger (PT) will be designated as ADGF under the new Project Tiger and Elephant (PT&E) division.
- The Inspector General Forests will now hold the position of Project Director, Project Elephant, serving as the divisional head of the PT&E division.
- The Project Director, Project Elephant, will report to ADGF (PT&E) and also act as the Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Why
- The merger appears to be an effort to optimize funds and resources.
Pros
- The merger is expected to result in improved administrative efficiency.
Cons
- The decision to merge the projects without any discussion has triggered concerns in wildlife conservation circles.
