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Q91 (IAS/2017) Environment & Ecology › Environment Laws, Policies & Institutions (India) › Wildlife Protection Act Official Key

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The rating of Schedules I to V under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is in accordance with the risk of survival of the wildlife (fauna) enlisted in them.[1] Species listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, are to be accorded the highest degree of protection.[2] Since both tigers and a tortoise declared under Schedule I receive this highest level of protection, they enjoy the same legal safeguards. The Supreme Court held that as elephants are covered by Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, it is illegal to kill or hunt them[6], demonstrating that Schedule I protection provides uniform stringent legal protections across all species listed under it, regardless of whether they are tigers, elephants, or tortoises.

Option B is incorrect because Schedule I listing does not imply a species is extinct in the wild or that extinction is inevitable. Option C is incorrect because Schedule I protection is based on endangerment status, not endemic distribution. The Asiatic Lion, endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat, is one of the critically endangered species identified by the Ministry for taking up recovery programmes[2], showing that endemism is a separate characteristic from Schedule I protection. Option D is therefore also incorrect.

Sources
  1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
  2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > a l..J -lj EN.VINO'NM > p. 232
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Q. In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply ? […
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 5/10
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This is a classic 'Concept Application' question. It does not require knowing the specific tortoise species; it requires understanding the legal definition of 'Schedule I' under the WPA, 1972. It is a fair, static question covered in every standard Environment textbook (Shankar, PMF, NCERT).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, does it enjoy the same level of legal protection as the tiger?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > a l..J -lj EN.VINO'NM > p. 232
Presence: 5/5
“;a l..J -lj EN.VINO'NM • The Asiatic Lion, endemic to Gir landscape of Gujarat, is one of the critically endangered species identified by the Ministry for taking up recovery programmes. Asiatic Lion, being listed in Schedule-I of Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972, to be accorded the highest degree of protection. • This project has a 'species Conservation over a large landscape' approach. Besides this approach, the Greater Gir Region (GGR) is being divided into various zones and management approaches.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that a species listed in Schedule I (Asiatic Lion example) is to be accorded the highest degree of protection.
  • Directly links Schedule I listing with the phrase 'highest degree of protection', implying parity among Schedule I species.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > r5.r.3. Salient features of the Act: > p. 212
Presence: 4/5
“• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is a product of process which started long ago in 1887 for the protection of a few wild birds and after addition of wild animals in 1987 and specified plants in 1990 it covered almost all wildlife resources which need protection and management. • i. The rating of the Schedules I to V is in accordance with the risk of survival of the wildlife (fauna) enlisted in them. 3. With the amendment of the Act in t99r, powers of the State Governments have been withdrawn almost totaily. Now the State Governments are not emprlwered to declare any wild animal a vermin.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that Schedules I to V are a ranked system based on risk of survival, indicating Schedule I is top-tier.
  • Shows the Act organizes species into schedules to reflect level of protection.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > t) /E-1 ENV:RONMENT > p. 243
Presence: 4/5
“Leatherback and loggerhead are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Except for loggerhead turtles, the remaining foreign species nest along the Indian coastline and islands of India. Sea turtles are an indicator of healthy marine ecosystems and provide a source of revenue for local communities through tourism. vll/”
Why this source?
  • Gives a concrete example of sea turtles (leatherback, loggerhead) being protected under Schedule I — demonstrating tortoise/chelonian taxa can be Schedule I.
  • Supports the premise that a tortoise placed in Schedule I would be covered by the Act's top-tier protections.
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