On December 19, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered its final judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh & Others v. Union of India — a landmark ruling balancing protection of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) with India's renewable energy expansion goals. The Court revised the priority conservation area in Rajasthan from approximately 13,163 sq km to a more precisely delineated 14,013 sq km, and to 740 sq km in Gujarat. Moving away from the near-blanket approach of its April 2021 order — which restricted overhead power lines across ~99,000 sq km — the Court adopted a targeted model tying restrictions to clearly defined, scientifically validated conservation zones. In Rajasthan, the judgment mandates immediate undergrounding of 80 km of identified 33 kV lines in priority bustard habitat, rerouting or insulation of remaining lines within two years, and relocation of nine 66 kV and higher-voltage transmission lines away from GIB habitats. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has been designated as the nodal agency to monitor implementation. The GIB — India's State Bird of Rajasthan — has a critically low wild population estimated at under 150 individuals, confined largely to the grasslands of Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. Wind and solar energy transmission lines in these semi-arid zones have been a leading cause of fatal collision mortality. The ruling represents a nuanced judicial approach — acknowledging that India's clean energy transition and biodiversity conservation must co-exist — and sets a precedent for how infrastructure planning must account for endangered species habitats.
Supreme Court Redraws Great Indian Bustard Conservation Map: Targeted Restrictions Balance Renewable Energy and Wildlife Protection in Rajasthan
On December 19, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered its final judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh & Others v. Union of India — a landmark ruling balancing protection of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) with India's renewable energy expansion goals. The Court revised the priority conservation area in Rajasthan from approximately 13,163 sq km to a more precisely delineated 14,013 sq km, and to 740 sq km in Gujarat. Moving away from the near-blanket approach of its April 2021 order — which restricted overhead power lines across ~99,000 sq km — the Court adopted a targeted model tying restrictions to clearly defined, scientifically validated conservation zones. In Rajasthan, the judgment mandates immediate undergrounding of 80 km of identified 33 kV lines in priority bustard habitat, rerouting or insulation of remaining lines within two years, and relocation of nine 66 kV and higher-voltage transmission lines away from GIB habitats. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has been designated as the nodal agency to monitor implementation. The GIB — India's State Bird of Rajasthan — has a critically low wild population estimated at under 150 individuals, confined largely to the grasslands of Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. Wind and solar energy transmission lines in these semi-arid zones have been a leading cause of fatal collision mortality. The ruling represents a nuanced judicial approach — acknowledging that India's clean energy transition and biodiversity conservation must co-exist — and sets a precedent for how infrastructure planning must account for endangered species habitats.
Key facts
- Supreme Court delivered final judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India on December 19, 2025.
- The ruling balances Great Indian Bustard conservation with renewable energy expansion goals.
- Priority conservation area in Rajasthan revised from 13,163 sq km to 14,013 sq km.
- The Court moved away from the near-blanket ban of its April 2021 order on overhead power lines.
- Targeted restrictions replaced the earlier approach that blocked ~99,000 sq km for renewable projects.
- GIB is critically endangered with an estimated population of fewer than 150 in the wild.
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
- RAS 2023 Endangered wildlife species in Southern Aravalli and reasons for loss — Both question the conservation of critically endangered species in Rajasthan and the causes of habitat-linked biodiversity loss.
Mains angle
Q: Examine the Supreme Court's December 2025 judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India which redraws the Great Indian Bustard priority conservation area and balances renewable energy expansion with wildlife protection in Rajasthan.
Answer (50 words):
On 19 December 2025 the Supreme Court revised Rajasthan's priority conservation area from 13,163 to 14,013 sq km and Gujarat's to 740 sq km, mandating undergrounding of 80 km of 33 kV lines and relocation of nine 66 kV lines. MoEFCC monitors implementation, protecting under 150 surviving bustards across Jaisalmer-Barmer grasslands.
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The Great Indian Bustard, protected under the Supreme Court's December 2025 ruling, is the State Bird of which Indian state?
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is the State Bird of Rajasthan. With a critically low wild population of under 150 individuals, it is largely confined to the grasslands of Jaisalmer and Barmer districts in Rajasthan.
Source: Down to Earth / Verdictum / SolarQuarter / Supreme Court of India
Frequently asked questions
What was the Supreme Court's December 2025 ruling on Great Indian Bustard conservation?
On December 19, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered its final judgment in M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India, revising the priority conservation area for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in Rajasthan from 13,163 sq km to a more precisely delineated 14,013 sq km and 740 sq km in Gujarat.
What is the conservation status of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)?
The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered with an estimated wild population of fewer than 150 birds. It is found mainly in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.
How did the 2025 Supreme Court order differ from its 2021 order on power lines?
The April 2021 order imposed a near-blanket ban on overhead power lines over approximately 99,000 sq km, blocking renewable energy projects. The December 2025 judgment replaced this with targeted restrictions in a scientifically delineated conservation area, balancing wildlife protection with renewable energy goals.
Why is the GIB case significant for Rajasthan's renewable energy sector?
Rajasthan ranks 1st in solar power installed capacity and 3rd in wind power installed capacity. The earlier blanket restriction on overhead lines threatened renewable energy projects across a vast area. The 2025 ruling enabled these projects to proceed outside the precisely defined conservation zone.
What is the significance of the M.K. Ranjitsinh case for RPSC exam aspirants?
This case is important for topics on environment and ecology, wildlife conservation, judicial activism, and the balance between development and environmental protection — all of which are covered under the RPSC General Studies syllabus.
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