UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PIL plea in Delhi HC against functioning of Wildlife Board

Q1. Under which one of the following provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is the National Board for Wildlife constituted?

  • A. Section 5A
  • B. Section 6
  • C. Section 26A
  • D. Section 38L

Q2. With reference to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and the State Board for Wildlife, consider the following statements: 1. The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister, whereas a State Board for Wildlife is headed by the Chief Minister of the State. 2. Both the NBWL and the State Boards for Wildlife derive their existence from the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. 3. The Union Minister of Environment is the Vice-Chairperson of the NBWL as well as of every State Board for Wildlife. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister, whereas a State Board for Wildlife is headed by the Chief Minister of the State.
  2. Both the NBWL and the State Boards for Wildlife derive their existence from the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
  3. The Union Minister of Environment is the Vice-Chairperson of the NBWL as well as of every State Board for Wildlife.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife comprises the Vice-Chairperson, the Member-Secretary and not more than how many members nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from among the members of the National Board?

  • A. Ten
  • B. Five
  • C. Fifteen
  • D. Twenty

Q4. Following the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, the total number of Schedules in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 stands reduced to:

  • A. Four
  • B. Six
  • C. Five
  • D. Three

Q5. With reference to the 2026 Public Interest Litigation concerning the functioning of the National Board for Wildlife, consider the following statements: 1. The petition was filed in the Delhi High Court. 2. It challenges the functioning of the National Board for Wildlife and its Standing Committee. 3. The petitioners describe the two bodies as a 'clearing house' for diverting protected areas. 4. The lead petitioner, Prakriti Srivastava, is a serving Union Environment Minister. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The petition was filed in the Delhi High Court.
  2. It challenges the functioning of the National Board for Wildlife and its Standing Committee.
  3. The petitioners describe the two bodies as a 'clearing house' for diverting protected areas.
  4. The lead petitioner, Prakriti Srivastava, is a serving Union Environment Minister.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Who among the following is the lead petitioner in the 2026 Delhi High Court PIL against the functioning of the National Board for Wildlife?

  • A. Prakriti Srivastava
  • B. M.K. Ranjitsinh
  • C. Valmik Thapar
  • D. Bittu Sahgal

Q7. The Supreme Court case M.K. Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union of India (2024) is best described as one that dealt exclusively with which of the following?

  • A. Protection of the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican, particularly from overhead power transmission lines
  • B. The translocation and reintroduction of African cheetahs into Kuno National Park
  • C. The de-notification of eco-sensitive zones around all national parks
  • D. The constitutional validity of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023

Q8. Consider the following statements: 1. No alteration of the boundaries of a sanctuary or a National Park can be made by a State Government except on the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife. 2. In the T.N. Godavarman case (1996), the Supreme Court held that the term 'forest' must be understood by its dictionary meaning, irrespective of ownership. 3. During 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife rejected the majority of the diversion proposals placed before it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. No alteration of the boundaries of a sanctuary or a National Park can be made by a State Government except on the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife.
  2. In the T.N. Godavarman case (1996), the Supreme Court held that the term 'forest' must be understood by its dictionary meaning, irrespective of ownership.
  3. During 2025, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife rejected the majority of the diversion proposals placed before it.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Which one of the following statements most precisely describes the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)?

  • A. A statutory body under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, chaired by the Union Minister of Environment, that oversees Project Tiger and tiger reserves
  • B. A body established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to grant recognition to zoos and safari parks
  • C. An authority under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 headed by the Prime Minister that clears projects in all protected areas
  • D. A tribunal set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to adjudicate tiger-poaching offences

Q10. The 2026 PIL alleges that the full National Board for Wildlife failed to meet as statutorily required, having convened in 2025 after a gap of about 13 years. As per this statutory requirement, the full Board is meant to meet:

  • A. At least once a year (annually)
  • B. Once every three years
  • C. Twice a year
  • D. Once every five years