6th Cycle of Tiger Reserve Evaluation Launched – 25 September 2026

What happened

On 25 September 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav opened the inception workshop for the 6th Cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves (MEE-TR) in New Delhi. It was organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The cycle will assess all 58 Tiger Reserves, and the Technical Manual of MEE 2026 was released at the event.

A new feature is 'Solid Waste Management' as a separate evaluation criterion. It covers waste from forest chowkis, tourism and biomedical waste at wildlife rescue centres. The minister said India has set aside more than 85,000 sq km for tiger conservation. MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh also spoke.

Background

MEE uses a framework adapted from the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). It assesses six elements: Context, Planning, Inputs, Processes, Outputs and Outcomes. MEE began in 2006. Earlier cycles were held in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 and covered 28, 39, 43, 50 and 51 reserves respectively. Independent multidisciplinary teams do the assessments.

Why it matters for exams

Tiger conservation, NTCA and protected-area management are high-yield topics for UPSC environment, state PSCs and forest service exams. The new waste criterion and the cycle years are likely MCQ facts.

Key facts for exams

• Tiger Reserves covered: all 58
• New criterion: Solid Waste Management
• NTCA: statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2006); chaired by the Union Environment Minister
• WII: Dehradun (Uttarakhand)
• Project Tiger: launched in 1973
• MEE framework: IUCN-WCPA, six elements

Practice MCQs

1. Which new criterion has been added in the 6th Cycle of MEE of Tiger Reserves?

   (A) Carbon sequestration
   (B) Solid Waste Management
   (C) Eco-tourism revenue
   (D) Invasive species removal

   Answer: (B) – MEE-TR 2026 adds Solid Waste Management as a separate criterion.

2. How many Tiger Reserves will the 6th MEE cycle cover?

   (A) 51
   (B) 55
   (C) 58
   (D) 60

   Answer: (C) – PIB says it will cover all 58 Tiger Reserves.

3. MEE of Tiger Reserves in India is based on a framework adapted from:

   (A) UNEP-WCMC
   (B) IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
   (C) WWF Living Planet
   (D) CITES Secretariat

   Answer: (B) – The IUCN-WCPA framework is the base.

Source: PIB Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 25 Sep 2026