One More Tiger Reserve: Why India Needs Them, The Challenges Some Face
Why in News?
- Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, was declared a tiger reserve in March 2025, increasing India’s tally of tiger reserves to 58.
- The newly designated reserve, spanning 1,651 sq km, currently hosts six tigers, including a cub.
Key Points
Project Tiger: A Conservation Milestone
- Launched in 1973 to counter alarming tiger population decline due to hunting and deforestation.
- Initially began with 9 reserves, now expanded to 58.
- Aims to protect tigers and their habitats through core and buffer zones.
Purpose of Tiger Reserves
- Ensure viable tiger populations and preserve ecological balance.
- Core zones restrict human activities, while buffer zones allow limited interactions.
- Managed under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Current Tiger Distribution in India
- Estimated 3,681 tigers (2022-23).
- Occupy around 89,000 sq km across five major landscapes.
- Corbett National Park has the highest population (260 tigers).
- Madhya Pradesh leads among states (785 tigers), followed by Karnataka (563).
Challenges in Tiger Conservation
- 16 reserves in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha have critically low tiger populations.
- Issues include habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and lack of political will.
- Mining, insurgency, and socio-economic challenges further threaten tiger habitats.
Way Forward
- Strengthen conservation efforts in underperforming reserves.
- Enhance wildlife corridors for better tiger movement.
- Integrate local communities into conservation strategies.
Controversy Over Land Allotted to Muttiah Muralitharan’s Company in Jammu & Kashmir
Why in News:
A political row erupted in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly over the allotment of 25.75 acres of land to M/s Ceylon Beverages Can Pvt. Ltd., a company where Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan is a director. The company has since surrendered the land, potentially leading to a loss of Rs 1,600 crore in investment for J&K.
Key Points:
1. The Controversy Over Land Allotment
- CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami questioned the land allotment, citing lack of availability for local housing projects.
- Congress MLA G.A. Mir raised concerns over how a non-Indian cricketer received industrial land.
- The land in question is located in Bhagthali Industrial Estate, Kathua district.
2. Eligibility Under J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy (2021-30)
- The policy allows land allotment to companies registered under Indian laws, corporate bodies, and partnerships.
- The allotment process involves scrutiny based on investment potential and employment generation.
3. Was Land Allotted to Muttiah Muralitharan?
- The land was allotted to M/s Ceylon Beverages Can Pvt. Ltd., not to Muralitharan as an individual.
- The company, registered in Chennai in 2023, has three directors, including Muralitharan.
4. Was the Land Given for Free?
- No, the company paid Rs 16.48 crore before the lease deed was executed on June 16, 2024.
- The proposed unit aimed to manufacture aluminum beverage cans and PET bottle fillings, generating 950 direct jobs.
5. Land Allotment and Selection Process
- Selection was based on investment per kanal and employment generation per kanal.
- M/s Ceylon Beverages ranked first among 22 applicants with Rs 7.975 crore investment per kanal.
6. J&K Industrial Development Policy
- Launched with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to promote industrialization.
- Entrepreneurs needed land allotment before becoming eligible for financial incentives.
7. Did the Company Receive Any Incentives?
- No, as the foreign investment required RBI and DPIIT approval, delaying registration.
- The entire Rs 28,400 crore fund was exhausted before the company could register.
8. Current Status of the Land
- On March 6, 2025, the company surrendered the land due to procedural delays.
- Under policy rules, 80% of the payment will be refunded since the surrender occurred within two years.
How Agriculture Has Become Central to the China-US Trade War
Why in News:
The ongoing China-US trade war has seen escalating tariffs with no exemptions for Chinese imports. In retaliation, China has selectively targeted US agricultural exports, impacting American farmers and shifting global trade dynamics.
Key Points
1. US Tariff Strategy
- The US imposed a 25% tariff on all imports but exempted goods from Canada and Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
- For China, a 10% tariff was imposed on February 4, 2025, which doubled to 20% by March 4.
- Unlike its trade policies with Canada and Mexico, the US has not offered tariff relief to China.
2. China’s Retaliatory Tariffs on US Agriculture
- China imposed 10% tariffs on US soybeans, sorghum, beef, pork, dairy, seafood, and produce.
- 15% tariffs were placed on wheat, corn, cotton, and poultry.
- The US exported $27.29 billion worth of agricultural goods to China in 2024, including $12.76 billion in soybeans, making the sector highly vulnerable to Chinese restrictions.
3. Impact on US Farmers
- The tariffs have hit the Midwestern soyabean-corn-wheat belt and the Southern cotton region the hardest.
- US farmers have been vocal about the economic strain, with experts noting that agriculture is a “soft underbelly” in trade disputes.
4. China’s Shift in Agricultural Strategy
- China aims to reduce its dependence on US imports by:
- Boosting domestic production of grains and oilseeds.
- Diversifying suppliers—increasing soy and grain imports from Brazil and Argentina.
- Strengthening COFCO and Sinograin, state-owned agri-trading firms, to rival Western agribusiness giants like Cargill and Bunge.
5. China’s Focus on Self-Reliance
- The Chinese Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs projects:
- Domestic grain production rise from 694 million tonnes to 767 million tonnes by 2032.
- Reduction in agricultural imports from 148 million tonnes to 122 million tonnes.
- President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on food security aligns with policies similar to India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance).
6. Shift in Global Agri-Trade and US-China Relations
- Decline in US share of Chinese soyabean imports:
- 2017-18: 30% from the US, 62% from Brazil.
- 2023-24: 22% from the US, 71% from Brazil.
- US agricultural exports to China have peaked and are now declining, with more of the market shifting to Brazil and Argentina.
7. Implications for India and Global Trade
- The intensification of the China-US trade war could pressure India to open its market to US farm produce.
- India, a major importer of vegetable oils and pulses, may need to navigate global supply shifts caused by these tensions.
Conclusion
Agriculture has become a strategic battlefield in the China-US trade war. While the US aims to pressure China with tariffs, China has responded by targeting American farmers and reshaping global agricultural trade. The long-term impact of China’s push for food self-sufficiency and diversification of suppliers could further alter the balance of global trade in agri-commodities.
