UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Don’t let poachers sneak through

Q1. Which one of the following is the primary parliamentary statute that governs the declaration and possession of wildlife trophies in India, and under which Kerala's 2025 wildlife trophy amnesty proposal is being framed?

  • A. Indian Forest Act, 1927
  • B. Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
  • C. Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • D. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Q2. The power to grant a fresh amnesty for declaring undeclared wildlife articles and trophies, as sought by Kerala in 2025, vests solely with which one of the following authorities?

  • A. National Board for Wildlife
  • B. Central Zoo Authority
  • C. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • D. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

Q3. On the ground, the receipt of declarations and physical seizure or certification of wildlife trophies under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in Kerala is operationalised primarily by which one of the following?

  • A. Kerala Police Crime Branch
  • B. Kerala State Forest and Wildlife Department, headed by the Chief Wild Life Warden
  • C. Kerala State Biodiversity Board
  • D. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Kochi zone

Q4. With reference to the Declaration of Wild Life Stock Rules, 2003 and the 2025 Kerala wildlife trophy amnesty proposal, consider the following statements: 1. Both derive their statutory anchorage from Section 40A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. Unlike the 2003 Rules, which were notified by the Union Government, the 2025 Kerala amnesty can be operationalised by the State Government without Central concurrence. 3. The Supreme Court has held that the time limit prescribed under Rule 4(2) of the 2003 Rules cannot be relaxed by any authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both derive their statutory anchorage from Section 40A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
  2. Unlike the 2003 Rules, which were notified by the Union Government, the 2025 Kerala amnesty can be operationalised by the State Government without Central concurrence.
  3. The Supreme Court has held that the time limit prescribed under Rule 4(2) of the 2003 Rules cannot be relaxed by any authority.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to India's regulatory framework for wildlife trophies and ivory, consider the following statements: 1. India banned the domestic sale of ivory through a 1986 amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. The Asian elephant is listed under Appendix II of CITES. 3. India became a signatory to CITES in 1986. 4. The Declaration of Wild Life Stock Rules, 2003 were framed under Section 40A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly described?

  1. India banned the domestic sale of ivory through a 1986 amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
  2. The Asian elephant is listed under Appendix II of CITES.
  3. India became a signatory to CITES in 1986.
  4. The Declaration of Wild Life Stock Rules, 2003 were framed under Section 40A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only