India’s Asiatic Lion Population Reaches 891

Exam-focused facts from the 11 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Asiatic lion population in India increased from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025, as announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on World Lion Day.
Project Lion, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020, aims to ensure long-term conservation of the Asiatic lion.
The geographical range of the Asiatic lion expanded from approximately 30,000 square kilometres in 2020 to nearly 35,000 square kilometres.
The last remaining wild population of Asiatic lions is found in and around Gujarat's Gir landscape.
Conservation interventions under Project Lion include habitat improvement, disease surveillance, veterinary support, scientific population monitoring, and technology-aided conservation measures.