SC-NBWL Approves 93% of Projects in Latest Meeting, Continuing Decade-Long High Approval Trend
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · IR
Why in news
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) approved 93% of development projects in its 91st meeting held in Coimbatore on July 9, 2026. This continues a decade-long trend of high approval rates, with 96.5% of projects approved since 2016, raising concerns about wildlife conservation versus infrastructure development.
Background
The SC-NBWL is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that reviews development projects in wildlife areas. Over the past decade, it has consistently approved a high percentage of projects, with no rejections in 2018, 2021, and the first meeting of 2026.
Key facts
In the 91st meeting of SC-NBWL on July 9, 2026, 99 out of 107 projects (93%) were approved.
No project was outrightly rejected; four were deferred, two returned to states, and two kept in abeyance pending Supreme Court clearance.
Since 2016, SC-NBWL has approved 96.5% of development projects considered.
Across 52 meetings since 2016, 2,448 proposals were placed; 572 deferred, 1,876 considered, 1,810 cleared, and 66 rejected.
In 2018, 2021, and the first meeting of 2026, every proposal considered was approved.
In 2020, the lowest approval rate was 89% (82 of 92 projects cleared).
Approved projects include those in tiger reserves like BRT, Palamau, Ranthambore, Buxa, Mukundara, Srivilliputhur Megamala, Pilibhit, and Melghat.
Projects also cover eco-sensitive zones like Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Karnala Bird Sanctuary, and wildlife sanctuaries like Cauvery, Sharavathi Valley, Someshwara, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
A special case approved was use of 2.18 hectares of forest land from Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary for a road connecting to NH-16.
Prelims pointers
- SC-NBWL: Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife
- Statutory body under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- 91st meeting held in Coimbatore on July 9, 2026
- Tiger reserves mentioned: BRT, Palamau, Ranthambore, Buxa, Mukundara, Srivilliputhur Megamala, Pilibhit, Melghat
- Eco-sensitive zones: Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Karnala Bird Sanctuary
- Wildlife sanctuaries: Cauvery, Sharavathi Valley, Someshwara, Dadra & Nagar Haveli
- Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of SC-NBWL in balancing infrastructure development and wildlife conservation.
- Critically examine the high approval rate of projects in wildlife areas and its implications for biodiversity.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of statutory bodies in environmental governance.