Prevention of cruelty towards animals — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. Which Fundamental Duty requires citizens to have compassion for living creatures?

   • Article 51A(a)
   • Article 51A(g) (correct answer)
   • Article 51A(h)
   • Article 51A(k)

   Explanation. Article 51A(g) makes compassion for living creatures a Fundamental Duty.

2. Prevention of cruelty to animals is Entry 17 of which list in the Seventh Schedule?

   • Union List
   • State List
   • Concurrent List (correct answer)
   • None

   Explanation. Entry 17 of the Concurrent List covers prevention of cruelty to animals.

3. Which section of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 lays down the duty of care of persons in charge of an animal?

   • Section 3 (correct answer)
   • Section 4
   • Section 11
   • Section 21

   Explanation. Section 3 imposes the duty to ensure the well-being of an animal and prevent unnecessary pain or suffering.

4. Section 11 of the PCA Act, 1960 deals with:

   • Establishment of the Animal Welfare Board
   • Acts treated as cruelty to animals (correct answer)
   • Compensation for farmers
   • Import of animals

   Explanation. Section 11 lists acts of cruelty such as beating, overloading and animal fights.

5. Which section of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 establishes the Animal Welfare Board of India?

   • Section 4 (correct answer)
   • Section 3
   • Section 22
   • Section 11

   Explanation. Section 4 provides that the Central Government establishes the Animal Welfare Board of India. The Board promotes animal welfare and protects animals from unnecessary pain or suffering.

6. In Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014), the Supreme Court held that Section 3 of the PCA Act:

   • Is merely directory
   • Is mandatory and confers corresponding rights on animals (correct answer)
   • Applies only to wild animals
   • Was repealed

   Explanation. The Court held Section 3 is mandatory and gives animals corresponding rights. On 18 May 2023 a Constitution Bench upheld the Tamil Nadu amendment of 2017 permitting jallikattu and disagreed with the 2014 decision in Animal Welfare Board of India v. Union of India.

7. The Supreme Court in Nagaraja read the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 with which Fundamental Duty?

   • Article 51A(a)
   • Article 51A(g) (correct answer)
   • Article 51A(h)
   • Article 51A(k)

   Explanation. Article 51A(g) makes compassion for living creatures a Fundamental Duty, and the Court read the Act with it.

8. Prevention of cruelty to animals is linked in the note to which Fundamental Duty and which Entry of the Concurrent List?

   • Article 48A and Entry 17B
   • Article 40 and Entry 1
   • Article 51A(g) and Entry 17 (correct answer)
   • Article 44 and Entry 5

   Explanation. The note links the prevention of cruelty to animals to Article 51A(g) and Entry 17 of the Concurrent List. It links the protection of wild animals to Article 48A and Entry 17B.