- Why in news
- On 17 January 2026 the Environment Ministry began the second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin, starting from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.
- What it is
- Project Dolphin is a conservation programme of the Environment Ministry for river and estuarine dolphins and their habitats. The Ganges River Dolphin is India's national aquatic animal. Population estimation is coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
- Coordinating body
- The survey is coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India, with State Forest Departments and partners WWF India, Aaranyak and Wildlife Trust of India.
- Phase 1 coverage
- The first phase covers the main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River.
- Phase 2 coverage
- The second phase covers the Brahmaputra, Ganga tributaries, the Sundarbans and Odisha.
- First round result
- The 2021-23 survey estimated around 6,327 riverine dolphins in India; Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had the most.
- New species
- The Irrawaddy dolphin is newly included, in the Sundarbans and Odisha; the method is the same as before.
- National aquatic animal
- The Ganges River Dolphin was declared India's national aquatic animal in 2009.
Don’t confuse with Ganges vs Indus river dolphin: Both are Platanista species; the Ganges one lives in the Ganga-Brahmaputra systems, the Indus one only in the Beas in India.
Don’t confuse with Riverine vs estuarine dolphins: Ganges and Indus dolphins are river dolphins; the Irrawaddy dolphin is estuarine and coastal.
Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.
Why it matters
- Dolphins are indicator species; their numbers reflect river health.
- Robust data supports evidence-based conservation planning and policy.
Problems
- Threats such as habitat loss and fishing pressure need assessment across many stretches.
- Surveying vast river systems needs standardized, trained field capacity.
Way forward
- Use survey results to guide Project Dolphin action in priority stretches.
- Keep training forest staff and involve partner organizations and local communities.
Put in your answer
First-round estimate: The 2021-23 survey estimated around 6,327 riverine dolphins in India.
- 2015Mains GS3 · Q15Discuss Namami Gange and NMCG programmes, and causes of mixed results.
- 2014Prelims Q14Reasons other than poaching for decline of Ganges River Dolphins.
- 2015Prelims Q25Which animal is India's national aquatic animal? Gangetic dolphin is an option.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin in India, consider the following statements:
Which one of the following is correct?
True or false?
1 of 8
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The second round of the dolphin population estimation is coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
True. WII, Dehradun coordinates the programme.
2.The second round of the survey adds the Irrawaddy dolphin, to be estimated in the Sundarbans and Odisha.
True. Irrawaddy dolphin is the new species covered, in Sundarbans and Odisha.
3.In the first phase of the second round, the survey covers the Brahmaputra and the tributaries of the Ganga.
False. Phase 1 covers the Ganga main stem (Bijnor to Ganga Sagar) and the Indus; the Brahmaputra and tributaries come in phase 2.
4.The previous survey (2021-23) found Indus River Dolphins in the Beas.
True. A small Indus River Dolphin population was recorded in the Beas.
5.In the previous survey, West Bengal and Assam accounted for the largest numbers of river dolphins, ahead of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
False. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had the largest numbers, followed by West Bengal and Assam.
6.The survey uses hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring.
True. Hydrophones are used for underwater acoustic monitoring.
7.The Ganges River Dolphin was declared the national aquatic animal of India in 2009.
True. Declared national aquatic animal in 2009.
8.The Irrawaddy dolphin is a strictly freshwater species found only in the Ganga basin.
False. The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in estuaries, coasts and some rivers (in India, e.g. Chilika and Sundarbans); it is not confined to the Ganga basin.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 17 Jan, 14:46 IST · Release 282381
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.