Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Transformation of Conservation Approach
The Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), 1972 was the first comprehensive legislation for wildlife conservation in independent India. It established a legal framework for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants and created a system of protected areas. The Act was amended significantly in 1991, 2002, and 2006, with the 2006 amendment introducing Chapter IV-B on tiger conservation.
- Provides for five categories of protected areas: National Parks (Section 35), Wildlife Sanctuaries (Section 18), Conservation Reserves (Section 36A), Community Reserves (Section 36C), and Tiger Reserves (Chapter IV-B)
- Schedules I through VI classify species by protection level — Schedule I species have the highest protection
- Established the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) under Section 5A (chaired by the Prime Minister)
- National Wildlife Action Plan first adopted in 1983, revised in 2002 and 2017
- The Act replaced a patchwork of colonial and post-colonial provincial laws, including acts like the Nilgiris Game and Fish Preservation Act of 1879
● Tracked since February 11, 2026 · last seen July 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
Environment & Ecology
Western Ghats
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Ramsar Convention
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Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve
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Central Asian Flyway (CAF)
Polity & Governance
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Polity & Governance
Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
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