India is home to tigers, elephants, rhinos, lions and thousands of other species. Hunting, trade in animal parts and loss of forests pushed many of them close to extinction by the 1970s. To protect them, Parliament passed the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the government started special conservation projects such as Project Tiger and Project Elephant. Exams ask about the Act, its schedules, its amendments and these projects. This post explains them in simple words. It ends with 15 previous year questions.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- The Wild Life (Protection) Act was passed in 1972.
- The 2022 amendment cut the schedules from six to four.
- The 2006 amendment created the NTCA and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
- Project Tiger began on 1 April 1973; Project Elephant in 1992.
- Project Cheetah brought cheetahs to Kuno National Park in 2022.
1. Wildlife in the Constitution
- Article 48A (Directive Principle) - the State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
- Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duty) - every citizen should protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife.
- Both were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976), which also moved forests and protection of wild animals and birds from the State List to the Concurrent List.
2. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
The Act provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants. Its main features:
- It bans hunting of listed animals, except in special cases allowed by law.
- It controls trade in wild animals, their parts and products.
- It provides for protected areas - national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves.
- It sets up authorities such as the Chief Wildlife Warden in each State.
3. Schedules after the 2022 amendment
| Schedule | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Schedule I | Animals with the highest protection |
| Schedule II | Animals with a lesser degree of protection |
| Schedule III | Protected plants |
| Schedule IV | Specimens listed under CITES appendices |
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 reduced the schedules from six to four, removed the separate schedule for vermin, and added provisions to implement CITES, the global treaty on trade in endangered species.
4. Important amendments and bodies
| Amendment / body | Year | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment | 2002 | Added conservation reserves and community reserves; provided for the National Board for Wildlife, chaired by the Prime Minister |
| Amendment | 2006 | Created the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) |
| Amendment | 2022 | Four schedules, CITES provisions, higher penalties |
5. Project Tiger
- Launched on 1 April 1973, with Jim Corbett National Park among the first reserves.
- Managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority since 2006.
- The tiger count is done every four years. The 2022 estimate found at least 3,167 tigers, about three-fourths of the world's wild tigers.
- The number of tiger reserves keeps growing; check the latest figure before the exam.
6. Other conservation projects
| Project | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Project Crocodile | 1975 | Crocodiles and gharials |
| Project Elephant | 1992 | Elephants, their habitats and corridors |
| Project Snow Leopard | 2009 | Snow leopard and high-altitude wildlife |
| Project Cheetah | 2022 | Bringing back cheetahs, starting at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, with cheetahs from Namibia and later South Africa |
7. India and global treaties
- CITES - India became a party in 1976; it controls international trade in endangered species.
- Convention on Biological Diversity - India passed the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to carry it out.
- Ramsar Convention - protects wetlands; India has many Ramsar sites.
8. Previous year questions
- In which year was the Wild Life (Protection) Act passed? – 1972
- How many schedules does the Act have after the 2022 amendment? – Four
- Which schedule gives the highest protection to animals? – Schedule I
- Which schedule covers protected plants after 2022? – Schedule III
- Which amendment created the NTCA? – 2006 amendment
- Who chairs the National Board for Wildlife? – The Prime Minister
- Which amendment added conservation and community reserves? – 2002 amendment
- Which Article asks the State to protect forests and wildlife? – Article 48A
- Which Fundamental Duty relates to protecting the environment? – Article 51A(g)
- Which amendment moved forests and wildlife to the Concurrent List? – 42nd Amendment, 1976
- When was Project Tiger launched? – 1 April 1973
- When was Project Elephant launched? – 1992
- Where were cheetahs released under Project Cheetah? – Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh
- What was the minimum tiger count in the 2022 estimate? – 3,167
- When did India become a party to CITES? – 1976
9. How to revise this topic
Start with the Constitution: Article 48A, Article 51A(g), 42nd Amendment and the Concurrent List.
Next, learn the Act: 1972, four schedules after 2022, amendments of 2002 (reserves, NBWL) and 2006 (NTCA, WCCB).
Then fix the projects by year: Tiger 1973, Crocodile 1975, Elephant 1992, Snow Leopard 2009, Cheetah 2022 at Kuno.
Finally, remember the numbers and treaties: 3,167 tigers in 2022, CITES 1976, Biological Diversity Act 2002.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972?
It is the main law for protecting wild animals, birds and plants in India. It bans hunting of listed species, controls wildlife trade and provides for protected areas.
How many schedules are there in the Wildlife Protection Act now?
After the 2022 amendment, there are four schedules - two for animals by level of protection, one for plants and one for CITES specimens.
What is the NTCA?
The National Tiger Conservation Authority was created by the 2006 amendment to the Wildlife Act. It manages Project Tiger and the tiger reserves.
When did Project Tiger start?
Project Tiger started on 1 April 1973, with Jim Corbett National Park among the first tiger reserves.
What is Project Cheetah?
Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, aims to bring back cheetahs to India. The first cheetahs from Namibia, and later South Africa, were released at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
For more on this topic, see our Tiger Reserves and Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Green Tribunal posts, or browse the Geography section. Preparing for SSC or State exams? Start with the SSC CGL guide or join the 100 Hour GS Course.