RAS question
What is the Global Tiger Initiative?
Correct answer: (B) World Bank-led programme supporting tiger range countries in conservation.
The Global Tiger Initiative is a World Bank-led programme, launched in 2008 with civil-society partners, to support tiger range countries in conserving wild tigers.
Explanation
The Global Tiger Initiative fits option B because it was launched by the World Bank and civil-society partners in 2008, with tiger range countries placed in charge of efforts to save the wild tiger. The World Bank press release on the St Petersburg forum says the initiative supported 13 tiger range countries and connected conservation science, NGOs, law enforcement and partner institutions. At St Petersburg in 2010, the participating countries committed to the Global Tiger Recovery Program, whose aim was to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. This was the TX2 target, and India achieved it ahead of schedule.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) All of these cannot be right because the options include 'Not applicable' and 'None of these', while option B gives the actual definition of the Global Tiger Initiative.
- (C) Not applicable is wrong because the Global Tiger Initiative was a real conservation programme launched by the World Bank and civil-society partners in 2008.
- (D) None of these is wrong because option B correctly identifies the initiative as a World Bank-led programme supporting tiger range countries in tiger conservation.
Concept
This tests international biodiversity initiatives under Environment and Ecology, especially tiger conservation frameworks linked to India. It recurs in RAS because tiger reserves, global conservation targets and India’s role in wildlife protection are standard exam themes.