28th Meeting of Reconstituted Wildlife Institute of India Society

Key Facts

• The 28th Meeting of the Wildlife Institute of India Society was held on 9 July 2026 at the Central Academy for State Forest Service (CaSFOS), Coimbatore.
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, President of the WII Society, presided over the meeting.
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The meeting followed the reconstitution of the WII Society for a three-year term starting April 2026, with nominated and ex-officio members.
• Focus areas of the meeting included human-wildlife conflict resolution, technology-driven wildlife management, and capacity building for wildlife management.
• Main participants included Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj (WII Director and Member-Secretary of the Society), MP Atul Garg, and Gujarat Minister Pravin Mali.
• WII is headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• Human-wildlife conflict is a significant conservation challenge in India, closely linked to habitat fragmentation and land-use change.
• Capacity building involves training in field ecology, wildlife law, protected area management, and use of technology.

Background & Context

The Wildlife Institute of India is a premier national institution for wildlife research, training, and advisory support. As an autonomous institution under MoEFCC, it plays a pivotal role in advancing wildlife conservation in India. The WII Society, which governs the institute’s activities, is reconstituted every three years, allowing for updated membership and strategic direction. The 28th meeting was the first after the Society's reconstitution in April 2026. The meeting’s discussions centered on aligning WII’s activities with the national vision 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047', focusing particularly on key conservation challenges such as human-wildlife conflict — a serious issue arising from increasing habitat fragmentation due to land-use changes in India. Addressing such challenges through technology integration and enhanced capacity building is crucial for effective wildlife management.

Why This Matters for Exams

This meeting is relevant for competitive examinations as it reflects recent policy and institutional developments in India’s wildlife conservation sector. Exam questions may cover the role and governance of the Wildlife Institute of India, the importance of human-wildlife conflict resolution, use of technology in forest and wildlife management, and key figures such as Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. Understanding the WII’s alignment with national visions like 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047' also helps contextualize India’s long-term environmental and developmental goals.

Points to Remember

• The Wildlife Institute of India is headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• It is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The 28th Meeting of the WII Society was held on 9 July 2026 at CaSFOS, Coimbatore.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav is the President of the WII Society.
• The WII Society was reconstituted in April 2026 for a three-year tenure with new nominated and ex-officio members.
• Human-wildlife conflict is linked to habitat fragmentation and land-use change, making it a critical area for focus.
• Capacity building includes training in field ecology, wildlife law, protected area management, and the use of technology.
• The meeting approved the institute’s agenda to align with the national vision 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047'.
• Main participants included Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj (Director WII), MP Atul Garg, and Gujarat Minister Pravin Mali.