About
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- India initiated environmental protection within its constitution, after the 1972 U.N. Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, marking June 5th as World Environment Day.
- The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, was a significant legislative step alongside other environmental laws like the Water Act (1974) and Forest Act (1980).
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Constitutional Provisions
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- Article 48-A emphasizes the state’s duty to protect and improve the environment, forests, and wildlife.
- Article 51-A (g) mandates citizens to protect and enhance the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
- Environmental protection is a fundamental duty enshrined in the Indian Constitution since 1976.
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The Wildlife(Protection) Act of 1972
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- It marked a crucial moment in wildlife legislation as forests and wildlife were initially under state jurisdiction.
- The Act has been adopted by all states except Jammu and Kashmir, which has its own similar law.
- The Act provides a framework for wildlife protection and management and has been amended several times for effective implementation.
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The Rationale for the Act
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- India’s wildlife faced rapid decline, even in protected areas like sanctuaries and National Parks.
- Previous laws like the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act, 1935, were outdated and inadequate in addressing current challenges.
- The Act addresses various factors contributing to wildlife decline, including hunting, trade, taxidermy, and poaching.
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Salient Features of the Act
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- The Act classifies wildlife into Schedules I to V based on their survival risk, with Schedule I animals receiving total protection.
- An expert committee oversees amendments to the Act.
- State governments’ powers to declare wild animals as vermin have been largely withdrawn, and provisions for compulsory livestock immunization near protected areas have been added since the 1991 amendment.
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