Great Indian Bustard Latest News
Recently, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has entered the fourth year of its captive breeding programme.
About Great Indian Bustard
- It is a large terrestrial bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
- Habitat: The bird is primarily found in dry grasslands and scrublands, which are rapidly declining due to agricultural expansion and development.
- Distribution: Its core population survives in the Thar Desert, mainly in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan.
Characteristics of Great Indian Bustard
- It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
- It has a horizontal body posture, long bare legs, and resembles an ostrich in appearance.
- Both sexes are similar in size, with the heaviest individuals reaching up to 15 kg (33 pounds).
- Life Span: The bird has a lifespan of 12–15 years.
- Diet: These birds are opportunist eaters. Their diet ranges widely depending on the seasonal availability of food. They feed on grass seeds, insects like grasshoppers and beetles, and sometimes even small rodents and reptiles.
Conservation Status of Great Indian Bustard
- IUCN: Critically Endangered
- CITES: Appendix 1
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1
Source: PIB
Last updated on March, 2026
→ UPSC Final Result 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ Anuj Agnihotri secured AIR 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
→ UPSC Marksheet 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC Notification 2026 & UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 is now out on the official website at upsconline.nic.in.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ Prepare effectively with Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Prelims Test Series 2026 featuring full-length mock tests, detailed solutions, and performance analysis.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Best UPSC Mentorship Program for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Shakti Dubey secures AIR 1 in UPSC CSE Exam 2024.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
Great Indian Bustard FAQs
Q1. Which state in India has the largest population of Great Indian Bustards?+
Q2. What is the Great Indian Bustard's habitat?+
Tags: Great Indian Bustard prelims pointers upsc current affairs upsc prelims current affairs
