Previous Year Question

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is India's principal central legislation for wildlife conservation. It was enacted on 9 September 1972. Its objectives include protecting wild animals, birds, and specified plants, regulating illegal hunting and wildlife trade, and providing a legal framework for conserving National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The Act became an important foundation for India's institutional wildlife conservation system.

Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India on 1 April 1973 to conserve tigers and their natural habitats. Initially, the programme covered nine Tiger Reserves. Its objectives include maintaining a Viable Population of tigers, preventing poaching, and protecting prey species and forest ecosystems. In 2006, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was provided with a statutory framework through an amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Project Elephant was launched in February 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Its primary objectives are to protect Asian Elephants, their natural habitats, and Elephant Corridors. The programme focuses on preventing elephant poaching, reducing Human–Elephant Conflict, and providing financial and technical assistance to states for elephant conservation.

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was formulated to conserve India's biological resources, ensure their Sustainable Use, and promote Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing arising from their utilization. It is associated with India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992. The Act received Presidential assent on 5 February 2003, while its major administrative provisions came into force on 1 October 2003. It provided for the establishment of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).