A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), launched in 1973.
- Initially launched in 9 Tiger reserves (TRs) in different states of India.
- Provides central assistance to tiger range States for in-situ conservation of tigers in designated tiger reserves.
Objective: To ensure the maintenance of a viable population of tigers in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values.
- Project Tiger has a holistic ecosystem approach. Though the main focus is on the flagship species tiger, the project strives to maintain the stability of ecosystems by also supporting abundant prey populations.
Implementing Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- NTCA was launched in 2005, following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. It was given statutory status by 2006 amendment of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Funding pattern: 60% Central Assistance is being made available to States for expenditure on all non-recurring items.
- For recurring items, Central Assistance is restricted to 50% of the expenditure, while a matching grant is provided by the Project States.
- North Eastern and Himalayan States are provided 90% central assistance in both cases.
Project Tiger and Project Elephant were merged as Project Tiger & Elephant.
Activities undertaken under Project Tiger
- Establishment and development of Tiger Reserves: 55 tiger reserves. (Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve and Dholpur – Karauli Tiger Reserve were declared in 2023)
- Core-buffer strategy to manage tigers: Core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary.
  - Whereas buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple-use area.
- Technological advancements: The e-Bird project uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for Surveillance and Monitoring.
  - NTCA conducts assessment using the application M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers Intensive Protection & Ecological Status).
- Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF): Deployed in several TRs for focused anti-poaching operations.

The conservation of tigers in India can be divided into two phases.

The first phase starting in the 1970s, involved the enactment of the Wildlife Protection Act and the establishment of protected areas that helped conserve tigers and tropical forest ecosystems.
The second phase began in 2005-06, with the government adopting a landscape-level approach and implementing strict monitoring for tiger conservation.

Challenges in Tiger Conservation

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Out of the approximately four lakh square kilometres of forests in tiger states, only one-third are in relatively healthier condition (Status Tiger Report 2022).
Human-Wildlife Conflict: As human populations expand and encroach upon tiger habitats, conflicts arise.
Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Poachers target tigers for their skins, bones, and other body parts.
Climate change: Shifting temperatures are altering the habitats of tigers in the Himalayan States, Sundarbans and Western Ghats.
- Climate change accelerates, and wildfires are becoming more frequent in ecosystems that do not typically experience a fire season.
Monitoring: TR such as Mukundra, Ranthambore, Nagarhole, etc. are situated along the boundaries of the state, which creates an issue of monitoring as the animal moves from one generation to another.
Other: Tigers reserves are also threatened by invasive plant species such as Lantana camara.

Way ahead

Habitat Protection and Restoration: Strengthen efforts to protect and expand tiger habitats.
- Establish and maintain wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats.
Community Involvement and Awareness: Engage local communities in conservation efforts through education and awareness programs.
- Promote sustainable livelihoods for communities living near tiger habitats to reduce dependence on natural resources.
Anti-Poaching Measures: Enhance law enforcement and anti-poaching efforts with better training, equipment, and technology.
- Collaborate with local communities to gather intelligence and report illegal activities.
- Impose severe penalties and consequences for wildlife crimes to act as a deterrent.
Climate Change Mitigation: Support research on the impacts of climate change on tiger habitats and populations.
Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage private sector involvement in tiger conservation through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.