**Executive Summary**
The 44th Meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) was chaired by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav in Bhopal on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Key achievements of the CZA for the financial year 2025-26 and strategic priorities for 2026-27 were presented. Additionally, a status report on the establishment of the NRC-W in Junagadh and its regional centers was presented.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE):**
* The second cycle of the MEE for large and medium category zoos is targeted to be conducted by the end of May 2026.
* The MEE is an evidence-based, comprehensive, holistic, and independent exercise to encourage the maintenance of high standards in zoos across the country.
* **Committee on CSR Contribution:**
* The scope of the committee examining CSR contributions for zoos has been expanded.
* Recommendations are sought for identifying prominent personalities to promote zoos, ex-situ conservation, conservation education, and self-sustainability.
* **Collaboration and Outreach:**
* Collaboration with the ZSI and institutions in the NIRANTAR vertical will be explored to promote zoos, ex-situ conservation, and conservation education.
* Suggestions will be solicited from Members of Parliament to strengthen zoos in their constituencies, aligning with the National Zoo Policy.
* Schools that have organized zoo visits are to be identified, and their management is to be requested to organize exclusive classes to gather collective suggestions for strengthening zoos.
* **Awareness and Education**
* Annual calendar for observance of important days was presented.
* The calendar is aimed to inspire empathy for wild animals and promote the conservation of natural resources.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Zoo Authority (CZA)**
* **Impact:** Accountable for implementing meeting objectives and ongoing efforts.
* **Action Required:** Oversee MEE process, committee recommendations, stakeholder collaboration, and education awareness.
**Zoos (Large and Medium Category)**
* **Impact:** Subject to second cycle Management Effectiveness Evaluation.
* **Action Required:** Participate in Management Effectiveness Evaluation.
**Committee Examining CSR Contribution**
* **Impact:** Expanded Scope requiring new recommendations
* **Action Required:** Broaden recommendations for identifying prominent personalities for Zoo promotions and ex-situ conservation.
**Members of Parliament**
* **Impact:** Their constituencies may contain a zoo of significance.
* **Action Required:** To provide suggestions for strengthening zoos to achieve objectives in the National Zoo Policy.
**Schools That Have Organized Zoo Visits**
* **Impact:** Important resource to gather suggestions for zoo strenghtening.
* **Action Required:** The managment of these schools needs to organise a class to seek collective suggestions for strenghtening zoos.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Zoo Authority (CZA): The primary regulator for zoos in India, responsible for setting standards and ensuring conservation efforts.
Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE): An evaluation process used to assess the performance and effectiveness of zoos.
National Zoo Policy: A referenced policy document that sets forth the objectives for zoos in India.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender
Yadav chairs 44th Meeting of Central Zoo
Authority at Bhopal
Posted On: 28 FEB 2026 8:09PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday chaired
the 44th Meeting of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) held at the Indian Institute of Forest Management,
Bhopal.
Key achievements of the CZA during the current financial year 2025-26 and strategic priorities for the
year 2026-27 were presented before the governing body of Central Zoo Authority. Also, a status report
was presented before the Central Zoo Authority regarding the establishment of the NRC-W in Junagadh
and its regional centers.
Further, the annual calendar for observance of important days was presented aimed to inspire amongst zoo
visitors’ empathy for wild animals, an understanding and awareness about the need for conservation of
natural resources and for maintaining the ecological balance.Subsequently, agenda items placed for consideration were deliberated. On the occasion, significant
decisions taken in the meeting were as mentioned below:
Target has been set to conduct the second cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of
large and medium category zoos by the end of May 2026. This exercise is an evidence based,
comprehensive, holistic and independent exercise encouraging maintenance of highest standards in zoos
across the country.
Scope of the Committee constituted to examine and report on potential of CSR contribution for zoos has
been expanded and sought recommendations regarding identification of prominent personalities who can
be connected with promotion of zoos, ex-situ conservation and conservation education to the youth and
self-sustainability of zoos.
Collaboration with the ZSI and institutions in the NIRANTAR vertical that includes CZA, to be
explored to promote zoos, ex-situ conservation and conservation education.
To solicit suggestions from Members of Parliament with a recognized zoo located in the respective
Parliament constituency with respect to strengthening of the zoo to achieve various objectives envisaged
in the National Zoo Policy.
Schools that have organized visits to zoos by their students to be identified and to request management
of such schools to organize a class exclusively to seek collective suggestions for strengthening zoos.
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VM
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