Biosphere Reserves: How India Balances Conservation with Livelihoods
Ahead of the International Day for Biosphere Reserves on 3 November, a backgrounder explains what these reserves are and how India manages them. India has 18 notified reserves, 13 of them in UNESCO's World Network, and the Environment Ministry funds states through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
Background
Biosphere reserves are areas that national governments identify to conserve biodiversity while promoting sustainable development; UNESCO launched its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in 1971.
India is one of 17 mega-biodiverse countries: it holds roughly 7-8% of recorded species worldwide on only 2.4% of Earth's land area.
Each reserve follows a three-zone model: a core area with the strictest protection, a buffer zone for research, education and regulated ecotourism, and a transition area for settlements and sustainable livelihoods.
Globally the zones average about 18% core, 30% buffer and 52% transition. UNESCO's network has 797 reserves in 145 countries, benefiting about 300 million people.
Cold Desert in Himachal Pradesh was designated in 2009 and entered UNESCO's World Network in 2025. Manas, Dibru-Saikhowa, Dehang-Dibang, Great Rann of Kutch and Seshachalam are notified but not yet in the World Network.
The Ministry's Biosphere Reserve division runs the 'Biodiversity Conservation' scheme, a sub-scheme of 'Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems'. It gives grants-in-aid to states for activities in each reserve's Management Plan, and State Forest Departments implement it.
Why it matters for the exam
Conceptual contrast: national parks and wildlife sanctuaries focus on wildlife and habitat under wildlife protection law, while biosphere reserves link protected ecosystems with the communities around them. This difference is a standard analytical point for questions on conservation models.
Federalism in environmental governance: the Centre funds a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on a cost-sharing basis, but states implement it through their forest departments, so outcomes depend on state capacity and priorities.
The development-conservation tension: the zonation model is an attempt to reconcile strict protection with livelihoods, but issues like human pressure on buffer and transition areas and weak local participation are likely mains themes.
Climate vulnerability: the release notes that about 40% of reserves globally may face more extreme climate events by 2050, which strengthens the argument for treating them as research and monitoring sites.
For Prelims revision
International Day for Biosphere Reserves is observed on 3 November; it was proclaimed by UNESCO.
India has 18 notified biosphere reserves, 13 of them in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the most in South Asia.
Zones of a biosphere reserve: core area, buffer zone, transition area.
Cold Desert (Himachal Pradesh) joined UNESCO's World Network in 2025.
Mains practice
Biosphere reserves are described as models for showing that biodiversity conservation and human well-being can coexist. Explain how the zonation of a biosphere reserve and the Centre-state funding arrangement attempt to achieve this, and discuss the challenges in balancing strict protection with local livelihoods. (Practice question by Shishya, 250 words)
Syllabus line (General Studies-III): “Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.” — UPSC CSE 2026 notice, read 27 Oct 2026.
Khet Bachaao Abhiyaan Rabi 2026: A month-long push for soil health and balanced fertiliser use
Between 22 October and 30 November 2026, a nationwide campaign titled 'Swasth Dhara, Samriddh Kisan' is being run for the Rabi season. It spans 34 States and UTs, over 700 districts and 50,000 villages, and hopes to engage around 50 lakh farmers through field demonstrations, trainings and digital outreach. It builds on a June 2026 edition and works through ICAR institutes, KVKs and ATMA together with State agriculture departments.
Background
The earlier edition ran through June 2026 with 1,657 multidisciplinary teams, holding over 1.34 lakh awareness events for 92.44 lakh farmers.
That first phase directly reached around 1.07 crore farmers and other stakeholders, and its social media reach was about 4.5 crore citizens.
The Rabi phase plans 4,150 teams of KVK and ATMA personnel, backed by over 12,000 scientists and ATMA functionaries, with 50,000 field demonstrations and 11,750 training sessions.
States and UTs have been told to give priority to 100 districts that consume a lot of fertiliser.
Priorities include the 4R principle, Integrated Nutrient Management, natural farming, residue management, crop diversification, climate-resilient farming and safe, need-based pesticide use.
In East Champaran, Bihar, scientists promoted dhaincha (about 50-60 kg nitrogen per hectare) and summer green gram (25-30 kg) as ways to cut urea need.
Why it matters for the exam
Agriculture is a State subject, yet the Centre drives this through convergence: States plan and implement, while ICAR institutes, KVKs and universities supply only technical knowledge, without administrative or enforcement authority. This illustrates cooperative federalism in extension services.
Economics of input use: imbalanced nutrient application raises cultivation costs and erodes soil organic matter. Lower dependence on purchased fertiliser can ease farmers' costs and the burden of fertiliser subsidy.
The campaign blends environment and agriculture: residue management, natural and regenerative farming, water conservation and climate-resilient planning link food security to sustainability.
Implementation challenge: campaigns rely on awareness, demonstrations and behaviour change. Their effect on actual fertiliser use and soil health needs measuring beyond counting events and farmers reached.
For Prelims revision
Khet Bachaao Abhiyaan Rabi 2026 runs from 22 October to 30 November 2026 under the theme 'Swasth Dhara, Samriddh Kisan'.
The 4R principle of fertiliser use stands for Right source, Right rate, Right time, Right place.
Dhaincha (Sesbania sp.) is a green manure crop; the release credits it with 50-60 kg nitrogen per hectare.
ATMA stands for Agricultural Technology Management Agencies; KVKs are Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Mains practice
Soil health campaigns like Khet Bachaao Abhiyaan depend on convergence between the Centre, State departments and research institutions. Discuss how such extension-based campaigns can promote balanced fertiliser use and sustainable agriculture, and examine the challenges in turning outreach into lasting change in farmer practice. (Practice question by Shishya, 250 words)
Syllabus line (General Studies-III): “Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.” — UPSC CSE 2026 notice, read 27 Oct 2026.