Realizing the importance of ‘tiger protection’ in biodiversity conservation, the Finance Minister had announced policy initiatives on 29th February, 2008, for constituting ‘Special Tiger Protection Force’ (STPF).

Based on the one time grant of Rs. 50 crore provided to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for raising, arming and deploying a Special Tiger Protection Force, the proposal for the said force has been approved by the competent authority for 13 tiger reserves.

The STPF has been made operational in the States of Karnataka (Bandipur), Maharashtra (Pench, Tadoba-Andhari, Nawegaon-Nagzira, Melghat), Rajasthan (Ranthambhore), Odisha (Similipal) and Assam (Kaziranga), out of 13 initially selected tiger reserves, with 60% central assistance under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger (CSS-PT).

There are two options available for constituting the STPF: one is ‘Forest Option’ and another one is ‘Police Option’.

Keeping in view of the duties to be performed by the personnel of STPF, a syllabus covering subjects such as wildlife conservation, protection, forest and wildlife law among others has been prescribed.

The STPF syllabus may be downloaded here.