With regard to Project Tiger in India, which one of the following statements is not correct?

Introduction / Context:
Project Tiger is one of India's flagship wildlife conservation programmes, launched to protect the Bengal tiger and its habitats. It is frequently discussed in environmental policy questions and current affairs. This question asks which statement about Project Tiger is not correct, so you must identify the option that contradicts well known facts about the project, its launch year, objectives and geographical spread of Tiger Reserves in the country.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- One statement states that Project Tiger was launched in 1973. - Another emphasises preservation of tiger habitats and tigers as natural heritage. - A third states that the project aims to ensure a viable population of tigers in India. - The last statement claims that there are no Tiger Reserves in the north eastern part of India. - We must find the statement that is factually incorrect.

Concept / Approach:
Project Tiger was indeed launched in the early 1970s, specifically in 1973, and its objectives include preserving not just the tiger as a species but also its natural habitats, ensuring ecological integrity and maintaining a viable population of tigers in their natural environment. However, the claim that there are no Tiger Reserves in north eastern India is clearly wrong, because reserves like Manas and Nameri in Assam and Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh exist in that region. Therefore, the approach is to accept the first three statements as correct and identify the fourth as the incorrect one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Confirm that Project Tiger was launched in 1973 under the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This supports Statement 1 as correct. Step 2: Recall that one of the project's main goals is to preserve tiger habitats along with their flora and fauna as part of India's natural heritage, which matches Statement 2. Step 3: Note that ensuring a viable and sustainable population of tigers in the wild is a core objective, so Statement 3 is also correct. Step 4: Examine Statement 4, which claims there are no Tiger Reserves in north eastern India. Step 5: Remember examples such as Manas, Nameri and Namdapha Tiger Reserves in the north east, proving that Statement 4 is false. Step 6: Therefore, the not correct statement is the one claiming there are no Tiger Reserves in the north eastern part of India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Project Tiger information in official documents and widely used exam guides lists multiple reserves across different landscapes, including the Himalayan foothills and north eastern forests. Maps of tiger reserves clearly show several sites in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Checking such a map or recalling famous north eastern reserves like Manas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes it obvious that the statement about the absence of Tiger Reserves in the region cannot be true.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The statement that Project Tiger was launched in 1973 is correct and matches historical records.

The statement about preserving tiger habitats and tigers as natural heritage accurately reflects one of the core aims of Project Tiger.

The statement focusing on ensuring a viable population of tigers is correct and reflects the population stabilisation and recovery objective of the scheme.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may not be aware of specific Tiger Reserves in the north east and could be misled by the absence of big cat news from that region compared to central India. Others might confuse the number of reserves with their geographic spread and underestimate the coverage in the north eastern hill states. To avoid these traps, revise the list and map of Tiger Reserves, paying attention not only to famous ones like Jim Corbett and Ranthambore but also to those in the north east and south India.

Final Answer:
The statement that is not correct about Project Tiger is "There are no Tiger Reserves in the north eastern part of India."