Biodiversity in India: Present Threats, Conservation Policies and the Role of Indian Legislation

India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries, hosting approximately 7–8% of all recorded species on just 2.4% of the world’s land area. With four global biodiversity hotspots (Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka and Sundaland), the country supports over 55,481 plant taxa and 105,244 animal species as of 2024 (Botanical Survey of India, 2025; Zoological Survey of India, 2025). Despite robust legal and policy frameworks, biodiversity faces severe threats from habitat fragmentation, deforestation (18,200 ha of primary humid forest lost in 2024), invasive alien species, pollution, overexploitation and climate change. This manuscript synthesizes the latest data from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Global Forest Watch, India State of Forest Report 2023 and IUCN Red List, while critically examining India’s biodiversity-related legislation: the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (as amended 2022), Biological Diversity Act 2002 (Rules 2004 & Amendment 2023), Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 (amended 2023), Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and recent regulations under the Jan Vishwas Act 2023 and Biological Diversity (Access and Benefit Sharing) Regulations 2025 (Government of India). The analysis reveals implementation gaps, judicial interventions and emerging opportunities under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Strengthening enforcement, community rights, landscape-level planning and climate-resilient corridors is essential for achieving national targets of protecting 30% of land and water by 2030.