Question map
According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law ? 1. Gharial 2. Indian wild ass 3. Wild buffalo Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
The Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting[1] habitats. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.[1] The central government announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including the Gharial.[1] Poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of animals listed Schedule 1 to schedule 4 are prohibited.[2] No person shall hunt any wild animal as specified in schedules I, II, III and IV except as provided under section 11 and section 12.[3] All three animals—Gharial, Indian wild ass, and wild buffalo—are protected under the schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, meaning they cannot be hunted except under specific legal provisions. Therefore, the correct answer is option D (1, 2 and 3).
Sources- [1] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
- [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > 11.1. SCHEDULE LIST-WPA, 1972 > p. 171
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis question masquerades as a specific legal query but is actually a 'General Awareness' test on India's flagship species. If an animal has a government 'Project' (Project Crocodile/Gharial) or a dedicated Sanctuary (Wild Ass Sanctuary), it is automatically in the highest protection bracket (Schedule I). The strategy is to link 'Conservation Projects' to 'Legal Schedules'.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is the gharial listed among species that cannot be hunted by any person except under provisions of the Act?
- Statement 2: Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is the Indian wild ass listed among species that cannot be hunted by any person except under provisions of the Act?
- Statement 3: Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is the wild buffalo listed among species that cannot be hunted by any person except under provisions of the Act?
- Explicitly links the 1972 Act's conservation thrust — including banning hunting — with specific recovery projects.
- Names the Gharial among species for which the central government announced protection projects, implying it was covered by the Act's protection measures.
- Describes that the Wildlife Protection Act uses schedule lists which give varying degrees of protection.
- States that poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of animals listed in Schedules I–IV are prohibited, supporting the idea that scheduled species cannot be hunted.
- Lists the Act's provisions including 'prohibition of hunting of wild animals'.
- Also lists permitting/licensing for hunting for education, scientific research and management — matching the 'except under provisions of the Act' qualification.
- Shows the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 document and explicitly names the Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur).
- Establishes that the species is recognized in the Act's text (i.e., included in the statutory listings).
- Quotes Section 9 of the Act which prohibits hunting of wild animals listed in Schedules I–IV except as provided under Sections 11 and 12.
- Directly supports the claim that listed species cannot be hunted except under the Act's provisions.
States that the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 includes 'prohibition of hunting of wild animals' and also provides for licences for hunting for specified purposes.
A student can use this rule to infer that species appearing in the Act's schedules are subject to hunting prohibitions except under licence provisions, so they should check which schedule (if any) lists the Indian wild ass.
Explains that the Act contains Schedules I to V (and later amendments) with protection levels related to risk of survival, and that state powers over declaring vermin were changed by amendment.
Knowing schedules rank protection, a student can look up which schedule the Indian wild ass would fall into (higher schedule → stricter hunting prohibition) to judge the claim.
Specifies that the WPA consists of multiple schedule lists and that poaching, smuggling and illegal trade of animals listed in Schedules I–IV are prohibited.
A student could check whether the Indian wild ass appears in Schedules I–IV (which would imply hunting/trade prohibitions) to test the statement.
States the Act's main objective is to provide protection to endangered species listed in the schedule of the Act and to support protected areas.
Use the definition that scheduled species receive legal protection to justify checking the schedule entries for 'Indian wild ass' to confirm if hunting is restricted.
Identifies the Indian wild ass's habitat (Rann of Kachchh), thereby linking a named species in the question to geographic and conservation contexts mentioned elsewhere.
A student could combine this species identification with schedule lists (from other sources or the Act) or with knowledge of Gujarat conservation measures to investigate whether the species is legally protected against hunting.
Summarises core provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 including 'prohibition of hunting of wild animals' and that licences can be granted for specific purposes.
A student could use this to infer that species listed in the Act’s schedules are covered by hunting prohibitions and then check the schedules to see if 'wild buffalo' appears.
States that the Act contains six schedules giving varying degrees of protection and that poaching/smuggling/illegal trade of animals listed in Schedules I–IV are prohibited.
A student could examine which schedule(s) confer the strongest 'cannot be hunted except under provisions' protection and then look up which schedule contains the wild buffalo.
Explains that the schedules I to V are ranked according to risk of survival and that the Act evolved to include wild animals and specified plants, implying schedule placement determines legal protection level.
Use the rule that higher-schedule listing means stricter protection to judge whether wild buffalo, if in a top schedule, would be subject to the 'cannot be hunted except under provisions' restriction.
Notes the Act created an all-India list of protected species and that the thrust included banning hunting of certain endangered species.
A student could take this general policy (ban on hunting endangered species) and then verify whether wild buffalo was considered endangered and therefore listed among protected species in the Act’s schedules.
Gives an example that Asiatic Lion is listed in Schedule I and 'accorded the highest degree of protection', illustrating that specific species are named and thereby receive hunting prohibitions.
By analogy, a student could check whether wild buffalo is similarly listed in Schedule I (or other schedules) to infer comparable hunting restrictions.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable via NCERT Class X (Ch 2) which lists Gharial under conservation projects, and general awareness for the others.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Schedules. Specifically, the difference between Schedule I (Absolute Protection) and Schedule V (Vermin).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize other Schedule I VIPs: Great Indian Bustard, Dugong, Lion-tailed Macaque, Blackbuck, Sangai (Brow-antlered deer), and Pangolin. Contrast with Schedule V (Vermin): Common Crow, Fruit Bats, Mice, Rats.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Apply the 'Severity Correlation'. If a species is IUCN Endangered/Critically Endangered, the Indian law almost certainly places it in Schedule I. Do not memorize the Act's text; memorize the conservation status of the animal.
The Act organises species into schedules that determine protection degree and prohibitions (e.g., Schedules I–IV prohibit poaching/trade).
High-yield for environment polity questions: understanding schedules explains which species receive the strictest legal protection and helps answer questions on hunting bans, penalties, and prioritisation of conservation. Links to biodiversity policy, protected areas, and enforcement agencies.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > 11.1. SCHEDULE LIST-WPA, 1972 > p. 171
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
The central government launched targeted recovery projects under the Act for gravely threatened species, explicitly including the Gharial.
Useful for case-study style answers: UPSC often asks about flagship species and successful recovery programmes. Knowing examples (gharial project) aids discussion of implementation, outcomes, and lessons for conservation policy.
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > gharial project > p. 47
The Act prohibits hunting generally but provides for licences for purposes like education and scientific research — capturing the 'except under provisions of the Act' nuance.
Important for precise legal-answering: many questions probe the scope of prohibitions and legal exceptions. Mastery helps distinguish blanket bans from regulated exceptions and supports answers on enforcement and statutory powers.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > the wildlife act, 1972 > p. 13
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA > p. 47
The Act organises species into Schedules I–V with varying degrees of legal protection, which determines hunting prohibitions.
High-yield for UPSC: many questions ask which species fall under which legal protection and what legal consequences follow. Understanding the schedule structure helps answer questions about prohibition, penalties, and relative conservation priority; it connects to biodiversity policy and wildlife crime topics.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > 11.1. SCHEDULE LIST-WPA, 1972 > p. 171
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
The Act prohibits hunting and also provides for licences/permits for specified purposes — the core legal mechanism that would govern whether any species can be hunted.
Important for legal/administrative questions: distinguishes outright bans from regulated exceptions (research, management, education). Mastering this helps in questions on wildlife governance, enforcement agencies, and permit regimes.
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > the wildlife act, 1972 > p. 13
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
The Act enabled listing of protected species and spurred projects and protected area declarations for specific endangered animals.
Useful for questions linking species to conservation measures (national parks, projects). Helps integrate knowledge of flagship species, habitat protection, and statutory instruments in environment papers.
- NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN INDIA > p. 47
The Act uses Schedules (I–V) to assign varying degrees of protection to species; whether a species can be hunted depends on its Schedule placement.
High-yield for UPSC: many questions ask which species receive highest legal protection or how penalties/vulnerabilities vary by Schedule. Mastering the role and differences of Schedules helps answer legal protection and conservation policy questions and link to species-specific schemes.
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > 11.1. SCHEDULE LIST-WPA, 1972 > p. 171
The 'Vermin' List (Schedule V). While UPSC asked what *cannot* be hunted, the next logical question is what *can* be hunted. Memorize the 4 specific entries: Common Crow, Fruit Bats, Mice, and Rats. (Note: Wild Boar/Nilgai are sometimes declared vermin temporarily, but are not permanently in Schedule V).
Use the 'VIP Immunity' Logic. Ask yourself: 'Is this animal famous enough to have a sanctuary named after it?' (Wild Ass Sanctuary, Gujarat). If yes, the government definitely won't let you hunt it. If an option suggests you can hunt a 'Wild Buffalo' (a massive, dangerous, endangered beast), it defies the logic of Indian conservation history. Thus, all must be protected.
Connect WPA 1972 to the Constitution: Article 48A (DPSP - State's duty to protect wildlife) and Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duty - Compassion for living creatures). This legal protection is the statutory enforcement of a Constitutional mandate.