World Lion Day 2026: Asiatic lion population up from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025
On World Lion Day, 10 August 2026, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said India's Asiatic lion population rose from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025, with the lion range expanding to nearly 35,000 sq km.
Summary
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav marked World Lion Day on 10 August 2026 by noting that India's Asiatic lion population had risen from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025. He credited forest officials, conservationists and local communities. The Ministry said 'Project Lion', announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2020, has seen the lion range expand from around 30,000 sq km in 2020 to nearly 35,000 sq km. The project follows a landscape-level approach covering habitat improvement, disease monitoring, scientific population tracking and community involvement.
Key facts
- Occasion
- World Lion Day, 10 August
- Population
- 523 (2015) → 891 (2025)
- Project Lion
- Announced by PM on 15 Aug 2020
- Lion range
- ~30,000 sq km (2020) → ~35,000 sq km
- Approach
- Landscape-level: habitat, disease monitoring, tracking, community
Practice MCQs 4 questions
On which date is World Lion Day observed, the occasion on which India highlighted its Asiatic lion numbers in 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 10 August
World Lion Day is observed on 10 August; on that day in 2026 the Environment Minister highlighted the rise in Asiatic lion numbers.
According to the Environment Ministry in August 2026, what was India's Asiatic lion population in 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 891
The Asiatic lion population rose from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025.
When was 'Project Lion' for the long-term conservation of the Asiatic lion announced by PM Narendra Modi?
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Correct answer: D — 15 August 2020
PM Modi announced Project Lion on 15 August 2020; the lion range has since expanded from about 30,000 sq km to nearly 35,000 sq km.
Consider the following statements about Asiatic lion conservation, as stated in August 2026: 1. The lion range has expanded to nearly 35,000 sq km from around 30,000 sq km in 2020. 2. The lion population more than doubled between 2015 and 2025. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The range grew to nearly 35,000 sq km, but the population rose from 523 to 891, which is less than double.