{"id":45398,"date":"2026-01-23T16:45:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/?p=45398"},"modified":"2026-01-23T16:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:15:10","slug":"dolphin-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey Launched under Project Dolphin in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#Second_Range-Wide_Dolphin_Survey_under_Project_Dolphin_launched_in_India_to_assess_dolphin_populations_monitor_river_health_and_guide_conservation_policies\" >Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey under Project Dolphin launched in India to assess dolphin populations, monitor river health, and guide conservation policies.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%90%AC_Second_Range-Wide_Dolphin_Survey_Launched_Under_Project_Dolphin_A_Comprehensive_Conservation_Effort\" >\ud83d\udc2c Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin: A Comprehensive Conservation Effort<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%93%8C_What_Is_Project_Dolphin\" >\ud83d\udccc What Is Project Dolphin?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%8C%8A_Survey_Coverage_and_Methodology\" >\ud83c\udf0a Survey Coverage and Methodology<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%A7%A0_Scientific_and_Policy_Significance\" >\ud83e\udde0 Scientific and Policy Significance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%93%8D_Why_This_News_Is_Important_for_Government_Exam_Aspirants\" >\ud83d\udccd Why This News Is Important for Government Exam Aspirants<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%93%8C_Environmental_Conservation_and_Policy\" >\ud83d\udccc Environmental Conservation and Policy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%8C%8F_Indicator_of_Ecosystem_Health\" >\ud83c\udf0f Indicator of Ecosystem Health<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%93%8A_Scientific_Research_and_Methodology\" >\ud83d\udcca Scientific Research and Methodology<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%8C%B1_Biodiversity_and_Sustainable_Development_Goals\" >\ud83c\udf31 Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%A7%BE_Historical_Context_Evolution_of_Dolphin_Conservation_in_India\" >\ud83e\uddfe Historical Context: Evolution of Dolphin Conservation in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#%F0%9F%93%8B_Key_Takeaways_from_Second_Range-Wide_Dolphin_Survey_Launched_Under_Project_Dolphin\" >\ud83d\udccb Key Takeaways from Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#FAQs_Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#1_What_is_Project_Dolphin_in_India\" >1. What is Project Dolphin in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#2_When_did_the_second_range-wide_dolphin_survey_start\" >2. When did the second range-wide dolphin survey start?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#3_Which_dolphin_species_are_covered_under_the_survey\" >3. Which dolphin species are covered under the survey?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#4_What_are_the_objectives_of_the_dolphin_survey\" >4. What are the objectives of the dolphin survey?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#5_Why_are_dolphins_called_indicator_species\" >5. Why are dolphins called indicator species?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#6_Which_rivers_are_part_of_the_survey\" >6. Which rivers are part of the survey?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#7_Which_ministry_is_responsible_for_Project_Dolphin\" >7. Which ministry is responsible for Project Dolphin?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#8_What_historical_survey_data_does_the_current_survey_build_upon\" >8. What historical survey data does the current survey build upon?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/national\/dolphin-survey\/#Some_Important_Current_Affairs_Links\" >Some Important Current Affairs Links<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Second_Range-Wide_Dolphin_Survey_under_Project_Dolphin_launched_in_India_to_assess_dolphin_populations_monitor_river_health_and_guide_conservation_policies\"><\/span>Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey under Project Dolphin launched in India to assess dolphin populations, monitor river health, and guide conservation policies.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%90%AC_Second_Range-Wide_Dolphin_Survey_Launched_Under_Project_Dolphin_A_Comprehensive_Conservation_Effort\"><\/span>\ud83d\udc2c Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin: A Comprehensive Conservation Effort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India has commenced the <strong>second range-wide dolphin survey under Project Dolphin<\/strong>, a major conservation initiative by the Union Government aimed at protecting the country\u2019s freshwater and estuarine dolphin species. The survey began from <strong>Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh<\/strong> and will span across multiple major river systems in India. This exercise aims to assess the current status of dolphin populations, examine habitat conditions, and identify key threats to these indicator species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nationwide survey, conducted in <em>two extensive phases<\/em>, will provide updated scientific data to guide conservation planning and policy action under Project Dolphin. It will cover the <strong>main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar, the Indus River, Brahmaputra and its tributaries, and even coastal regions such as the Sundarbans and parts of Odisha<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%93%8C_What_Is_Project_Dolphin\"><\/span>\ud83d\udccc What Is Project Dolphin?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Launched by the Government of India, <strong>Project Dolphin<\/strong> is a flagship conservation programme focused on the protection of India\u2019s riverine and estuarine dolphins and the ecosystems they inhabit. It is designed not only to monitor dolphin populations but also to restore habitats, reduce threats like pollution and fishing entanglement, and promote community engagement and scientific research. By doing so, the project contributes to broader freshwater and coastal ecosystem health and sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%8C%8A_Survey_Coverage_and_Methodology\"><\/span>\ud83c\udf0a Survey Coverage and Methodology<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current dolphin estimation will be conducted in <strong>two major phases<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phase I:<\/strong> Focus on the Ganga River from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River basin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Phase II:<\/strong> Coverage expands to the Brahmaputra river system, lengthy tributaries of the Ganga, the <strong>Sundarbans delta<\/strong>, and finally coastal waters near <strong>Odisha<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This broad approach ensures that both riverine dolphins (including <em>Ganges<\/em> and <em>Indus River dolphins<\/em>) and <strong>estuarine dolphins such as the Irrawaddy dolphin<\/strong> are included in the assessment. Beyond animal counts, the survey teams will record <strong>habitat conditions, human pressures and ecological threats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%A7%A0_Scientific_and_Policy_Significance\"><\/span>\ud83e\udde0 Scientific and Policy Significance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dolphins are recognized as <strong>indicator species<\/strong>, meaning their presence or absence reflects the overall health of freshwater ecosystems. Healthy dolphin populations often indicate cleaner water, robust prey availability, and lesser habitat fragmentation. By comparing current findings with the results of the <em>first survey conducted between 2021 and 2023<\/em>, authorities will be better positioned to evaluate whether conservation efforts are yielding positive outcomes and where additional interventions are required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\" id=\"Dolphin-Survey\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\" alt=\"Dolphin Survey\" style=\"width:579px;height:auto\" title=\"Dolphin Survey\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dolphin Survey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%93%8D_Why_This_News_Is_Important_for_Government_Exam_Aspirants\"><\/span>\ud83d\udccd Why This News Is Important for Government Exam Aspirants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This development is significant for students preparing for <strong>competitive government exams<\/strong> such as UPSC (IAS\/PCS), SSC, banking, railways, teaching, defence and police services for several reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%93%8C_Environmental_Conservation_and_Policy\"><\/span>\ud83d\udccc Environmental Conservation and Policy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding Project Dolphin and related surveys highlights India&#8217;s approach to <strong>biodiversity conservation<\/strong>, an important component of General Studies syllabi, especially for <strong>Environment and Ecology<\/strong> sections in UPSC and state PCS exams. It reflects how scientific data drives policy and conservation action, aligning with international environmental commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%8C%8F_Indicator_of_Ecosystem_Health\"><\/span>\ud83c\udf0f Indicator of Ecosystem Health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Freshwater dolphins like the <strong>Ganges river dolphin<\/strong> are <em>indicator species<\/em>. Their conservation status provides insights into the health of major Indian river systems \u2014 topics frequently covered in environment-related current affairs questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%93%8A_Scientific_Research_and_Methodology\"><\/span>\ud83d\udcca Scientific Research and Methodology<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The use of <strong>scientific estimation methods, two-phase surveys, habitat monitoring, and advanced tools<\/strong> underscores the importance of methodological rigor in national programmes. For aspirants, being aware of government-led scientific surveys helps answer case studies and analytical questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%8C%B1_Biodiversity_and_Sustainable_Development_Goals\"><\/span>\ud83c\udf31 Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This survey contributes to India\u2019s progress toward <strong>Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<\/strong>, particularly those related to life below water and life on land. Question patterns in civil services exams often link national schemes to SDG targets, making this news key for conceptual clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%A7%BE_Historical_Context_Evolution_of_Dolphin_Conservation_in_India\"><\/span>\ud83e\uddfe Historical Context: Evolution of Dolphin Conservation in India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">India\u2019s formal efforts to conserve dolphins trace back to the launch of <strong>Project Dolphin in 2020<\/strong>, an initiative aimed at protecting freshwater and marine dolphin species across the country. With the release of the <strong>first nationwide dolphin population survey (2021\u20132023)<\/strong>, India recorded an estimated <strong>6,327 riverine dolphins<\/strong> across major river basins such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus systems \u2014 data that formed the baseline for future conservation planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ganges river dolphin, locally known as <em>\u2018Susu\u2019<\/em>, was declared the <strong>National Aquatic Animal of India<\/strong>, reflecting its ecological and cultural significance. Conservation challenges such as water pollution, habitat fragmentation by dams, sand mining and fishing net entanglements have historically threatened dolphin populations, making surveys critical to informed policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By incorporating additional species like the <strong>Irrawaddy dolphin<\/strong> and expanding survey regions, the latest range-wide estimation builds on historic conservation momentum and reflects India\u2019s growing commitment to biodiversity protection at both national and global levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%93%8B_Key_Takeaways_from_Second_Range-Wide_Dolphin_Survey_Launched_Under_Project_Dolphin\"><\/span>\ud83d\udccb Key Takeaways from <em>Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Sr. No.<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Key Takeaway<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1.<\/td><td>India launched the second nationwide dolphin survey under Project Dolphin from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2.<\/td><td>The survey will be conducted in two phases covering major rivers like the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Sundarbans and Odisha.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3.<\/td><td>It includes counts of riverine dolphins (Ganges and Indus) and estuarine species such as Irrawaddy dolphins.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4.<\/td><td>Dolphin surveys help assess habitat health, threats, and inform conservation policy and action.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5.<\/td><td>The initiative is coordinated by the MoEFCC with scientific support from wildlife institutes and conservation partners.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dolphin Survey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_What_is_Project_Dolphin_in_India\"><\/span>1. What is Project Dolphin in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Project Dolphin is a flagship conservation initiative launched by the Government of India in 2020 to protect riverine and estuarine dolphins and restore their habitats across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_When_did_the_second_range-wide_dolphin_survey_start\"><\/span>2. When did the second range-wide dolphin survey start?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The second range-wide dolphin survey started in January 2026 from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Which_dolphin_species_are_covered_under_the_survey\"><\/span>3. Which dolphin species are covered under the survey?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The survey includes riverine dolphins like the Ganges and Indus river dolphins and estuarine dolphins like the Irrawaddy dolphin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_What_are_the_objectives_of_the_dolphin_survey\"><\/span>4. What are the objectives of the dolphin survey?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The objectives include estimating dolphin populations, assessing habitat conditions, identifying threats, and guiding policy for conservation under Project Dolphin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Why_are_dolphins_called_indicator_species\"><\/span>5. Why are dolphins called indicator species?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Dolphins are called indicator species because their population and health reflect the overall condition of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Which_rivers_are_part_of_the_survey\"><\/span>6. Which rivers are part of the survey?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Major rivers covered include the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Sundarbans delta, and coastal regions near Odisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Which_ministry_is_responsible_for_Project_Dolphin\"><\/span>7. Which ministry is responsible for Project Dolphin?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) oversees Project Dolphin in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_What_historical_survey_data_does_the_current_survey_build_upon\"><\/span>8. What historical survey data does the current survey build upon?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The first range-wide dolphin survey (2021\u20132023) recorded approximately 6,327 riverine dolphins across India\u2019s major rivers, providing a baseline for the current survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Some_Important_Current_Affairs_Links\"><\/span>Some Important Current Affairs Links<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/national\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">State Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/sports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sports Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/international\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/banking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Banking Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/railway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Railways Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/defence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Defence Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--4\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs?newsmaticargs=custom&amp;posts=today\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Daily Current Affairs<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--5\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairsinhindi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Current Affairs In Hindi<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--6\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/category\/news-and-notifications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">News and Notifications<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.edunovations.quiz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Banner-current-affairs-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Download this App for Daily Current Affairs MCQ&#039;s\" class=\"wp-image-247\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Banner-current-affairs-2-1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Banner-current-affairs-2-1-300x50.jpg 300w, https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Banner-current-affairs-2-1-768x128.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Download this App for Daily Current Affairs MCQ&#8217;s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\" id=\"News-Website-Development-Company\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.martindiainfotech.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/News-Website-Development-Company-Banner.png\" alt=\"News Website Development Company\" class=\"wp-image-438\" title=\"News Website Development Company\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/News-Website-Development-Company-Banner.png 900w, https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/News-Website-Development-Company-Banner-300x50.png 300w, https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/News-Website-Development-Company-Banner-768x128.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">News Website Development Company<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey under Project Dolphin launched in India to assess dolphin populations, monitor river health, and guide conservation policies. \ud83d\udc2c Second Range-Wide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin: A Comprehensive Conservation Effort India has commenced the second range-wide dolphin survey under Project Dolphin, a major conservation initiative by the Union Government aimed at&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":45436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,153],"tags":[33234,24092,33231,33232,15293,28911,33233,264],"class_list":["post-45398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","category-miscellaneous","tag-dolphin-survey-2026","tag-environmental-current-affairs","tag-ganges-river-dolphin","tag-irrawaddy-dolphin","tag-moefcc","tag-project-dolphin","tag-river-conservation-india","tag-wildlife-conservation"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45398"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45437,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45398\/revisions\/45437"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edunovations.com\/currentaffairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}