India, Oct. 20 -- The government has begun the process to carry out a national Red List Assessment of 1,211 bird species across the country according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) framework, with a preliminary assessment already completed for over 100 birds, including the Great Indian Bustard (proposed as critically endangered) and the Indian Roller, whose status has been proposed as 'vulnerable', officials said.

While a preliminary assessment is expected to be completed by the end of this year, a final assessment is only expected to be ready towards the end of next year, those aware of the matter said. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (established in 1964) is the world's most comprehensive inventory...