wild life and endangered species — 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. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 became possible as a uniform central law because:

   • States voluntarily surrendered their powers
   • The 42nd Constitutional Amendment moved wildlife protection onto the Concurrent List (correct answer)
   • The Supreme Court ordered Parliament to legislate
   • It was required under a Presidential Ordinance

   Explanation. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment moved 'forests' and 'protection of wild animals and birds' onto the Concurrent List (Entries 17A and 17B), enabling uniform central legislation.

2. The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 restructured the Act's schedules from six to:

   • Three
   • Four (correct answer)
   • Five
   • Eight

   Explanation. The 2022 Amendment reduced six schedules to four and abolished the separate vermin schedule.

3. Under the restructured schedules, a species can now be declared vermin:

   • Only by an entry in Schedule V
   • Only through a specific central notification under Section 62 (correct answer)
   • Automatically after ten years of protection
   • By any State Forest Officer's order

   Explanation. The 2022 Amendment removed the standing vermin schedule; vermin can now be declared only through a specific central notification under Section 62.

4. The new schedule added by the 2022 Amendment is meant to:

   • List species declared as vermin
   • Reproduce India's CITES obligations for international-trade-regulated specimens (correct answer)
   • List protected plant species only
   • Replace the old Schedule I entirely

   Explanation. The 2022 Amendment added a schedule for specimens listed under CITES and added rules for trade in them.

5. A Conservation Reserve under section 36A is:

   • An area next to a national park or sanctuary, declared in consultation with local communities (correct answer)
   • A private zoo
   • A tiger-breeding farm
   • An area where hunting is allowed

   Explanation. A Conservation Reserve (section 36A) is an area next to a national park or sanctuary, declared in consultation with local communities.

6. Which protected-area category is declared over community or private land at the community's own initiative, with ownership remaining with the community?

   • National Park
   • Wildlife Sanctuary
   • Community Reserve (correct answer)
   • Tiger Reserve

   Explanation. A Community Reserve (Section 36C) is declared over community or private land at the community's own initiative, and ownership remains with the community.

7. A National Park is notified under which section of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972?

   • Section 18
   • Section 36C
   • Section 35 (correct answer)
   • Section 62

   Explanation. A National Park is notified under section 35. A sanctuary is notified under section 18 or later sections, and a Community Reserve under section 36C.

8. On 13 November 2025, within the Godavarman writ petition, the Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand Government to:

   • Close the Saranda forest to all people
   • Notify a large part of the Saranda forest as a Wildlife Sanctuary, with a no-mining buffer around its boundary (correct answer)
   • Allow mining in the Saranda forest
   • Transfer the forest to the Union

   Explanation. The Court directed the Jharkhand Government to notify a large part of the Saranda forest as a Wildlife Sanctuary and set a no-mining buffer around its boundary.