1. Home
  2. Current Affairs
  3. News Crux
  4. Purnima Devi Barman Named TIME’s Woman of the Year

Purnima Devi Barman Named TIME’s Woman of the Year

  • 21 Feb 2025

In February 2025, Indian biologist and conservationist Purnima Devi Barman was honored as "Woman of the Year" by TIME magazine for her extraordinary contributions to wildlife conservation.

  • Purnima Devi Barman, 45, is the only Indian woman featured in the prestigious list that recognizes global leaders working towards a more equal and just world.
  • Hailing from Assam, she is known for her tireless efforts in protecting the endangered greater adjutant stork, locally called Hargila.
  • The species faced a critical population decline, with only around 450 individuals remaining before her conservation efforts began.
  • Due to her relentless work, the Hargila population in Assam has grown to over 1,800, leading to its reclassification from “endangered” to “near threatened” by the IUCN in 2023.
  • Barman’s grassroots movement engaged local communities, particularly women, in conservation through the formation of the “Hargila Army.”
  • The TIME list includes 13 women, such as actor Nicole Kidman and French activist Gisele Pelicot, a survivor-turned-advocate against sexual violence.