Unstarred Question No. 192, posed by Shri Harish Chandra Meena, concerns the violation of guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) regarding safari timings and the use of artificial light in the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. The question asks whether safari timings for tourist vehicles were extended in May 2025 and whether tigers were shown in artificial light, violating NTCA guidelines. The question also requests details of any action taken against responsible officers/agencies and measures to prevent future incidents, as well as the Government's reaction to these reports and the current status of NTCA guidelines enforcement.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh) replied that, as reported by the State, there was no extension of safari timings for tourist vehicles at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in May 2025. The State Governments have been advised to adhere to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (Normative Standards for Tourism and Project Tiger) Guidelines, 2012, for regulating tourism activities.
Key Entities Referenced
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Regulatory authority whose guidelines are the subject of the question.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry responsible for the subject matter.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve: Specific location relevant to the policy’s impact.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (Normative Standards for Tourism and Project Tiger) Guidelines, 2012: Policy document governing tourism in tiger reserves.
Rajasthan: State where Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is located.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 192
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Violation of the Guidelines of the NTCA
192. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the safari timings of the tourist vehicles at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in
Rajasthan were extended in May, 2025 and the tigers were shown in the artificial light which
is violation of the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA);
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against the officers/agencies responsible
and steps taken to check the recurrence of such incidents in future; and
(c) if not, the reaction of the Government to these reports and the present status of enforcement of
NTCA guidelines for safari timings, artificial light and vehicles access to the Tiger Reserve?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) As reported by the State, there was no extension of safari timings for tourist vehicles at the
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in May 2025.
(b) & (c) The State Governments have been advised to adhere to the National Tiger Conservation
Authority (Normative Standards for Tourism and Project Tiger) Guidelines, 2012, for regulating
tourism activities.
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