Question 34 from UPSC CSE 2020 - ENVIRONME NT

Question

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under 'Critical Tiger Habitat'?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Strategy: Focus on recalling the key tiger reserves by size, especially their designated 'Critical Tiger Habitat' areas. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam is the largest in area among all Indian tiger reserves, surpassing Corbett, Ranthambore, and Sunderbans. This allows for direct selection without the need for elimination.

Key Info: Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH), also known as 'core area', is notified under Section 38V of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2006). These regions within tiger reserves are scientifically assessed as essential and inviolate for tiger conservation. Rights of Scheduled Tribes or other forest dwellers may only be modified through due process involving expert committees and Gram Sabhas.

*   **Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve**: Spanning over 3,728 sq km across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is India's largest tiger reserve and hosts the largest area designated as Critical Tiger Habitat.
*   **Corbett Tiger Reserve**: Located in Uttarakhand, it covers approximately 1,318 sq km (including core and buffer zones), with its core CTH significantly smaller than Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam.
*   **Ranthambore Tiger Reserve**: In Rajasthan, it covers around 1,334 sq km (with a core area of about 392 sq km).
*   **Sundarbans Tiger Reserve**: Located in West Bengal, it covers about 2,585 sq km (with a core area of about 1,330 sq km).

CTHs are declared across reserves considering viable tiger habitat, prey base, and ecological conditions. The Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA) mandates no irreversible land use change in these core areas. Their protection and management are integral to Project Tiger (launched 1973), which envisions inviolate spaces for tiger populations. CTH notification and management are state subjects, following guidelines set by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Corbett

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Ranthambore

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Sunderbans