Senior IFS Officer at Jim Corbett Seeks Voluntary Retirement

Saket Badola, a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer currently heading Jim Corbett National Park as Chief Conservator of Forests, has submitted a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) application on personal grounds. Badola, who belongs to the 2008 batch of the IFS and is cadred under Uttarakhand, has been a key figure in the management of the iconic national park, home to the Bengal tiger and several endangered species. The development marks a significant administrative change at one of India's most prominent wildlife reserves. The exact timeline for processing his VRS application and the impact on ongoing conservation initiatives at the park remains unclear. Badola's departure, if approved, would necessitate the appointment of a successor to oversee the park's critical operations and long-term wildlife management strategy.