Supreme Court Orders Strict Measures to Protect India's Tiger Reserves

On November 18, 2025, India's Supreme Court issued a comprehensive set of guidelines to strengthen the protection and conservation of the country's tiger reserves. In a significant ruling, the court directed all state governments to notify eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) of at least 1 kilometer around the outer boundaries of tiger reserves, including buffer and fringe areas.

The court also ordered the establishment of "silence zones" within the entire tiger reserve area, prohibiting the use of mobile phones and night tourism in the core or critical tiger habitats. To bolster the defense of forests and wildlife, the court issued a series of directives to improve the employment, service conditions, and benefits for frontline forest staff.

Notably, the court mandated the creation of separate policies on funding for tiger reserves and staffing requirements, while prohibiting the outsourcing of forest personnel. The judgment also proposed innovative measures to boost the morale of forest guards, such as allowing them to display medals for commendable work and providing ex-gratia payments in case of duty-related deaths.

Additionally, the court directed the Uttarakhand government to undertake comprehensive restoration measures within the Corbett Tiger Reserve, including the demolition of unauthorized constructions and the remedying of illegal tree felling and other destruction. The ruling aims to strengthen India's efforts to protect its iconic tiger population and their critical habitats across the country.