Why in News? 

India launched National Red List Assessment Initiative (2025-30) to evaluate the conservation status of its flora & fauna, announced at IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. 

• About: Aims to identify & protect India’s most vulnerable species based on IUCN standards, evaluating ~11,000 species (7,000 flora, 4,000 fauna). 
• Implementing Bodies: Led by MoEFCC, with BSI, ZSI & WII. 
• Global Biodiversity Commitments:  Fulfills Target 4 of Kunming-Montreal Framework, addressing species extinction, genetic diversity, and human-wildlife conflicts. 
• India's Species Status: Of the assessed fauna, 13.4%– threatened, 289 species– near threatened, 13.8%-- data deficient; India shows high endemism, with 79% amphibians and 54.9% reptiles found only in India. 

IUCN World Conservation Congress, known as the "Olympics of Conservation," is the world’s largest conservation event, held once every four years.