The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ( MoEFCC ) announced a landmark achievement in the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) . After a decade, a chick hatched in the grasslands of Kutch, Gujarat, thanks to a novel Jumpstart Approach coordinated by MoEFCC, the forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) . Key Developments 22 March 2026: A fertile egg, incubated at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Sam, Rajasthan, was transported 770 km in a handheld incubator to the nest of a female GIB in Naliya, Gujarat. 26 March 2026: The female successfully incubated the egg and the chick hatched, marking the first successful trans‑state conservation effort for GIB. Current status: Only three female GIBs remain in Kutch; the hatchling is being reared by its foster mother in the wild. Conservation breeding numbers: 73 birds are now housed in the Conservation Breeding Centres at Sam and Ramdevra, Rajasthan, with five new chicks added this season. Future plan: India is moving towards large‑scale rewilding of GIB and other threatened birds. Important Facts Project GIB was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2011 and formally launched in 2016. The egg transport required a continuous, halt‑free corridor from Sam (Rajasthan) to Naliya (Gujarat), covering 770 km in 19 hours. The female GIB that laid the infertile egg in August 2025 was tagged for monitoring. The successful hatch demonstrates the feasibility of moving fertile eggs across state borders to boost wild populations. UPSC Relevance This case study touches upon several UPSC syllabus points: environmental policy implementation (MoEFCC’s role), species‑specific conservation strategies (Jumpstart Approach, rewilding), inter‑state coordination (Rajasthan‑Gujarat collaboration), and the significance of flagship species like the Great Indian Bustard in biodiversity preservation (GS4: Environment). Understanding such initiatives helps answer questions on wildlife management, policy design, and the challenges of conserving critically endangered fauna. Way Forward Scale the Jumpstart Approach to other GIB habitats across India. Strengthen habitat restoration in Kutch to support the survival of the fledgling and remaining females. Expand rewilding programmes for other threatened avian species. Enhance monitoring infrastructure (GPS tagging, community participation) to track post‑release survival. Mobilise additional funding and technical expertise through public‑private partnerships and international conservation bodies.