Union Environment Minister chairs 45th Meeting of Central Zoo Authority

1. At a Glance

The 45th Meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) was chaired by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav on 21 March 2026 at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun [S1].
Marks ongoing institutional review of India's ex-situ conservation architecture; CZA is the apex statutory regulator of all Indian zoos [S1][S3].
Relevant for GS-III (Biodiversity & Conservation) and Prelims (statutory bodies, Wildlife Protection Act).

Release of compendium "Care in Captivity: A compendium to showcase Best Practices of Zoos" during the meeting [S1].
Review of second cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of zoos [S1].
Three key decisions: (i) constitute a committee on the "My Zoo" concept to link prominent persons with zoos; (ii) zoos to present conservation breeding progress on 2–3 species per meeting; (iii) regular updates on transfer of leopards from human–leopard conflict to zoos with off-display long-term care facilities [S1].
Comes shortly after the 44th meeting at Bhopal (2026) and the 43rd meeting focused on ex-situ conservation and zoo evaluation [S2][S4].

CZA constituted in 1992 via the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991 inserting Chapter IV-A (Sections 38-A to 38-J) into the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 [S3].
Mandate: enforce minimum standards for zoo upkeep and complement in-situ conservation via planned ex-situ measures.
Recognition of Zoo Rules notified under WPA; latest notifications under Sections 49M, 49N, 49-O post the 2022 WPA amendment strengthened regulatory rules [S5][S6].
MEE for zoos launched as a periodic third-party assessment tool; second cycle currently under review [S1].

Body: Central Zoo Authority — statutory, affiliate member of WAZA [S3].
Parent ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) [S1].
Statutory base: Sections 38-A to 38-J, Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; recognition of zoos under Section 38-H [S3].
Composition: Chairperson (Union Environment Minister), Member-Secretary + up to 10 members (statute).
Headquarters: New Delhi.
Recognised zoos in India: 155 under Section 38-H [S3].
Categories of zoos: Large, Medium, Small, Mini, Rescue Centres.
Venue of 45th meeting: IGNFA, Dehradun (premier IFS training academy) [S1].

Environmental / Biodiversity: CZA drives conservation breeding of endangered species (e.g., Asiatic lion, red panda, gharial, pygmy hog); 2–3 species progress reporting per meeting institutionalises accountability [S1].
Legal / Constitutional: Operates under WPA 1972 (Concurrent List, Entry 17B — "Protection of wild animals and birds"); post-2022 amendment added CITES Schedule IV compliance via Sections 49M/49N/49-O [S5][S6].
Administrative: MEE second cycle benchmarks zoo governance, animal welfare, education and research; leopard-translocation protocol addresses human–wildlife conflict management interface [S1].
Social / Ethical: "My Zoo" initiative seeks public-figure stewardship — outreach + behavioural change for conservation; "Care in Captivity" codifies welfare ethics for captive wildlife [S1].
Scientific: Conservation breeding feeds reintroduction programmes; ex-situ as insurance population against habitat loss.

21 Mar 2026: 45th CZA meeting, Dehradun; "Care in Captivity" released [S1].
2026 (earlier): 44th CZA meeting chaired at Bhopal [S2].
2025: 43rd CZA meeting — focus on ex-situ conservation, management & evaluation of zoos [S4].
2024: Rules under Sections 49M, 49N, 49-O of WPA (2022 amendment) notified covering exotic species and CITES implementation [S5][S6].

CZA is a statutory (not constitutional, not executive) body [S3].
Established in 1992 under the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991 [S3].
Statutory provisions: Chapter IV-A, Sections 38-A to 38-J, WPA 1972 [S3].
Zoo recognition issued under Section 38-H of WPA [S3].
Number of recognised zoos in India: 155 [S3].
Chairperson: Union Minister, MoEFCC (currently Bhupender Yadav) [S1].
45th meeting venue: IGNFA, Dehradun [S1].
Publication released at 45th meeting: "Care in Captivity" [S1].
New initiative: "My Zoo" committee to link prominent persons with zoos [S1].
Evaluation framework: Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Zoos — second cycle [S1].
Sections 49M / 49N / 49-O added by 2022 WPA amendment deal with CITES Schedule IV exotic species [S5][S6].
44th CZA meeting was held at Bhopal [S2].

GS-III: Conservation, environmental biodiversity, ex-situ vs in-situ.
GS-II: Statutory bodies; centre-state coordination on wildlife.
Possible question stems: 1. "Examine the role of the Central Zoo Authority in complementing in-situ conservation in India." 2. "Ex-situ conservation is an insurance, not a substitute, for in-situ conservation. Discuss in light of recent CZA initiatives." 3. "Evaluate the regulatory framework for zoos in India after the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022."

Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 & 2022 Amendment — parent statute and CITES alignment.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — sister statutory body, in-situ focus.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) — enforcement counterpart.
CITES — global trade regime now mirrored in WPA Schedule IV.
Conservation Breeding Programmes (e.g., gharial, great Indian bustard, pygmy hog).
Human–Wildlife Conflict policy — leopard translocation context.
IGNFA, Dehradun — premier IFS training institution.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) — also used for tiger reserves & PAs.

CZA is statutory, not constitutional — created by 1991 amendment, not Article-based.
Often confused with NBWL (National Board for Wildlife) — NBWL is chaired by the PM; CZA is chaired by the Environment Minister.
Zoo recognition is under Section 38-H, not Section 38-A (which establishes the Authority itself).
CZA's mandate is ex-situ (zoos/rescue centres) — do not conflate with NTCA's in-situ tiger reserve role.
Number of recognised zoos = 155 (frequently misquoted; figure is dynamic).

[S1] Union Environment Minister chairs 45th Meeting of Central Zoo Authority — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2243418 — (tier 1)
[S2] 44th Meeting of Central Zoo Authority at Bhopal — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2234036 — (tier 1)
[S3] Status of zoos in the country (155 zoos under Section 38-H) — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1945479 — (tier 1)
[S4] 43rd Meeting of Central Zoo Authority — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222581 — (tier 1)
[S5] Rules under Sections 49N & 49-O, WPA 1972 (2022 amendment) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1923681 — (tier 1)
[S6] Rules under Section 49M, WPA 1972 (2022 amendment) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2011928 — (tier 1)