When was the Wildlife Protection Act implemented in India?

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

The Wildlife Protection Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1972.
Its primary objective is to provide protection to the country's wild animals, birds, and plant species to ensure environmental and ecological security.
The Act led to the establishment of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and other protected areas.
It was enacted in response to the rapid decline of India's wildlife and was a significant step following the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Option A: This year predates the major push for environmental legislation in India, which gained significant momentum after the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972.
Option C: This is the year the Forest (Conservation) Act was enacted.
Option D: This year is incorrect. It falls between the enactment of the Water Act (1974) and the Forest Act (1980), but does not correspond to the Wildlife Protection Act.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Environmental Legislation in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
For general knowledge sections in competitive exams, memorizing the years of major national acts is crucial for scoring well.
Creating a timeline of key legislation (Wildlife 1972, Water 1974, Forest 1980, Air 1981, Environment 1986) is an effective study strategy for factual recall questions.
What if the question asked for the Environment (Protection) Act? The answer would be 1986. This comprehensive act was passed in the wake of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to provide a framework for coordinating the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous laws.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from the General Knowledge domain.
First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'Wildlife Protection Act'.
Next, access your memory for key dates related to Indian legislation and environmental history.
Associate the act with the year 1972, which was a landmark year for environmentalism globally due to the Stockholm Conference.
Finally, eliminate the other options by confirming they are incorrect or are associated with different events or acts (e.g., 1980 is for the Forest Act).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) pp. 178-180, 142-144

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 200-202

Practise the full DSSSB 13 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.