GS3 · Conservation

Project Great Indian Bustard: captive tally reaches 70

Battle IAS current affairs title card: Project Great Indian Bustard: captive tally reaches 70 (GS3 · Conservation, 13 March 2026)
Asked by UPSCPrelims 20201 PYQ

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

What happened

  • Project GIB entered the fourth year of captive breeding as two chicks hatched at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Rajasthan, taking the captive tally to 70 [PIB].
  • One chick came from natural mating and one from artificial insemination [PIB].

Background

  • The GIB is Critically Endangered (IUCN) and Schedule I; Rajasthan’s Desert National Park is its stronghold, and power lines are a major threat.

Why it matters

  • Captive breeding is an insurance population for a species with very few left in the wild.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

  1. As per PIB (2026-03-13): project GIB entered the fourth year of captive breeding as two chicks hatched at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Rajasthan, taking the captive tally to 70.
  2. Captive breeding is an insurance population for a species with very few left in the wild.
Quotable data point

Project GIB entered the fourth year of captive breeding as two chicks hatched at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Rajasthan, taking the captive tally to 70.

PIB: MoEFCC: Project GIB, 13 Mar 2026

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: GIB status and habitat.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

GIB IUCN status

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Captive tally

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Breeding centre state

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

Official source: PIB: MoEFCC: Project GIB, 13 Mar 2026

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending