Previous Year Question

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is the principal central legislation enacted for wildlife conservation in India. It was enacted on 9 September 1972 as Act No. 53 of 1972. Its objectives include protecting wild animals, birds, and specified plants, controlling Poaching, and preventing illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife-derived products. The legislation plays an important role in maintaining the country's Biodiversity and Ecological Balance.

The Act provides a legal framework for establishing and managing Protected Areas such as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Hunting protected wildlife is generally prohibited, although limited permissions may be granted under legally specified circumstances. The Act also regulates trade in wildlife, animal parts, and wildlife-derived articles, along with penalties for violations. It provides for institutions such as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Central Zoo Authority (CZA), and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

The Wild Life (Protection) Act has undergone several amendments. The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 introduced important changes concerning wildlife conservation and international wildlife trade. It incorporated specific provisions for implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The amendment also reorganized the Act's Schedules, reducing their number from six to four. These Schedules establish provisions concerning the protection of different species and international wildlife trade.

Among the other options, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 primarily regulates the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. Following its amendment in 2023, it was renamed the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is broader legislation concerning environmental protection, improvement, and pollution control. The West Bengal Wild Life Preservation Act, 1959 was a state-level law with territorial application limited to West Bengal. Therefore, the principal nationwide legal framework for wildlife protection is the central legislation enacted in 1972.