Overview On 26 March 2026 , a Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick hatched in the grasslands of Kutch, Gujarat, marking the first successful inter‑state conservation effort for the species. The hatch was achieved through the Project GIB ‘jumpstart’ approach, coordinated by the MoEFCC along with the forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat and the Wildlife Institute of India . Key Developments Transport of a captive‑bred GIB egg from a Rajasthan breeding centre to Gujarat over a 770‑km road journey lasting more than 19 hours in a portable incubator. The egg was placed in the nest of a female GIB (tagged in August 2025) on 22 March 2026 after the bird had laid an infertile egg. The female completed incubation and the chick emerged on 26 March 2026 ; field teams are now monitoring its growth under natural conditions. Current breeding centre population in Rajasthan (Sam and Ramdevra) stands at 73 birds , with five new chicks added in the present season. The Ministry announced plans to move towards rewilding of GIBs as a long‑term strategy. Important Facts The Great Indian Bustard is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 200 individuals remaining in the wild. Prior to this effort, only three female GIBs survived in Kutch, making natural breeding virtually impossible. The successful egg transfer demonstrates logistical feasibility of inter‑state wildlife interventions. UPSC Relevance Understanding this case helps aspirants in multiple GS papers: GS‑2 (Polity) : Role of the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and inter‑governmental coordination. GS‑4 (Environment & Ecology) : Species‑specific conservation strategies, captive‑breeding, rewilding, and the significance of flagship programmes like Project GIB . GS‑3 (Economics) : Allocation of resources for wildlife conservation and the economic implications of biodiversity loss. Way Forward To build on this success, the following steps are recommended: Scale the ‘jumpstart’ model to other states with viable habitats, ensuring rapid response mechanisms for egg transfer. Strengthen monitoring of released chicks using satellite telemetry to assess survival and habitat use. Enhance community participation in Kutch and surrounding districts to mitigate human‑wildlife conflict. Allocate dedicated funding for habitat restoration, predator control, and anti‑poaching measures. Integrate GIB conservation into broader climate‑resilient landscape planning under the MoEFCC. These actions aim to increase the wild GIB population, safeguard genetic diversity, and fulfill India’s commitment to international biodiversity targets.