NBWL Standing Committee and Central Zoo Authority meet in Bhopal
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 89th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife and the 44th meeting of the Central Zoo Authority in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on 28 February 2026.
Summary
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 89th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) and the 44th meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on 28 February 2026. The SC-NBWL considered 58 fresh proposals for projects in and around protected areas, tiger reserves and eco-sensitive zones, covering optical fibre, power lines, roads, drinking water, defence and irrigation. It discussed environmental flows in the Chambal for dolphins and gharials, villages inside tiger reserves, grasslands and human–leopard conflict. The CZA set a target to complete the second cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of large and medium zoos by May 2026. The SC-NBWL is a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 28 February 2026, Bhopal
- Meetings
- 89th SC-NBWL; 44th CZA
- Chair
- Bhupender Yadav
- Proposals
- 58 fresh proposals in and around protected areas
- Policy issues
- Chambal e-flows, villages in tiger reserves, grasslands, human–leopard conflict
- CZA target
- 2nd cycle of zoo Management Effectiveness Evaluation by May 2026
- Law
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Where were the 89th meeting of the NBWL Standing Committee and the 44th meeting of the Central Zoo Authority held on 28 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Bhopal
Both meetings, chaired by Bhupender Yadav, were held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Consider the following statements: 1. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. At its 89th meeting, the Committee discussed environmental flows in the Chambal river for conserving dolphins and gharials. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PIB describes the SC-NBWL as a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and lists Chambal e-flows for dolphins and gharials among the policy matters discussed.