India is one of the megadiverse countries in the world, with
unique biogeographical locations, diverse climatic conditions, and
a wide array of ecosystems, from the deep sea to the high mountain
ranges of the Himalayas. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) under
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is a
111-year-old organization inventorying the faunal resources of the
country right from Protozoa to Mammalia. ZSI Headquarters at
Kolkata and its 16 Regional Centres spread across the country are
studying the Indian fauna of all the States, UTs, Protected Areas
present in different ecosystems. The first version of the complete
fauna of India checklist covering all faunal groups from Protists
to Mammals was published and made available online in ZSI website
in 2024. This checklist was subsequently updated in V2.0 and
published in 2025. Version 3.0 of the Fauna of India Checklist
includes 121 checklists encompassing all known taxa across 36
Phyla, offering insights into species distribution and diversity
within the States and Union Territories of India. All Scheduled,
CITES & IUCN species have been listed in the checklists. This
significant achievement is the result of the dedicated efforts of
185 experts from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). This
dynamic, annually updated database establishes a standardized
framework essential for biodiversity research, law enforcement,
and environmental policy in one of the world's premier megadiverse
nations.
