🇮🇳 Chapter 01 · Topic 03 · National Symbols

National Animal, Bird & Flower

Bengal Tiger, Indian Peacock, Lotus — scientific names, significance, conservation status, and key facts.

🐯 National Animal — Bengal Tiger

Scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris
Declared national animal in 1973 (replacing the lion) when Project Tiger was launched
IUCN Status: Endangered
India has the largest tiger population in the world — approximately 3,682 tigers (2022 census)
Found in: Sundarbans (WB), Corbett (Uttarakhand), Bandhavgarh (MP), Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Nagarhole (Karnataka), Kaziranga (Assam)
Project Tiger launched on 1 April 1973 by PM Indira Gandhi; currently 54 Tiger Reserves in India
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) oversees Project Tiger
Tiger census conducted every 4 years; latest: 2022

⭐ Why Tiger replaced Lion as National Animal (1973): The Asiatic lion was India’s national animal until 1973. It was replaced by the Bengal Tiger when Project Tiger was launched, as the tiger was facing severe population decline due to poaching and habitat loss. The tiger is found across a wider range of India compared to the lion (which is restricted to Gir Forest, Gujarat). The tiger also better represents India’s diverse forest ecosystems.

🦚 National Bird — Indian Peacock

Scientific name: Pavo cristatus
Declared national bird in 1963
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (highest protection)
The male peacock (peafowl) has an iridescent blue-green plumage and a spectacular tail (train) with eye-like patterns
The female is called a peahen; the young is called a peachick
Associated with Hindu mythology — vehicle (vahana) of Lord Kartikeya; feathers used in Lord Krishna’s crown
Found throughout India; state bird of Rajasthan and Haryana
Killing a peacock is a criminal offence under the Wildlife Protection Act

🌸 National Flower — Lotus

Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera
Also called Indian Lotus or Sacred Lotus
Declared national flower in 1950
Grows in muddy water but blooms above the surface — symbolises purity, enlightenment, and detachment
Sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism — associated with Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Brahma
The lotus is the seat (asana) of many Hindu deities
National flower of India and Vietnam
The lotus motif appears on the national emblem and many Indian coins

📌 National Heritage Animal — Elephant: The Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) was declared India’s National Heritage Animal in 2010. This was done to give it the same level of protection as the tiger. Project Elephant was launched in 1992 to protect elephants and their habitats. India has the largest Asian elephant population in the world (~27,000). IUCN Status: Endangered. The elephant is the state animal of Karnataka, Kerala, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh.

✅ Revision Checklist — Animal, Bird & Flower

✅ National animal = Bengal Tiger = Panthera tigris tigris = declared 1973
✅ Project Tiger = launched 1 April 1973 = 54 Tiger Reserves = NTCA
✅ Tiger population India = ~3,682 (2022 census) = largest in world
✅ National bird = Indian Peacock = Pavo cristatus = declared 1963
✅ Peacock = Schedule I WPA = highest protection = killing is criminal offence
✅ National flower = Lotus = Nelumbo nucifera = declared 1950
✅ Lotus = grows in mud = symbolises purity = sacred in Hinduism + Buddhism
✅ National Heritage Animal = Indian Elephant = declared 2010 = Project Elephant (1992)
✅ Elephant population India = ~27,000 = largest Asian elephant population