UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — All animals need equal consideration

Question 1

The statutory body charged with advising the Government on animal welfare, and which gives grants to animal welfare organisations, owes its existence to which one of the following provisions?

Accepted Answer

Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, placed in Chapter II of the Act

Answer

Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, placed in Chapter I (Preliminary)

Answer

Section 9 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, placed in Chapter III (Cruelty to Animals Generally)

Answer

Section 5A of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, placed in Chapter V (Performing Animals)

Question 2

Under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the enhanced punishment prescribed for a repeat offender applies only if the later offence is committed within how many years of the previous offence?

Accepted Answer

Three years

Answer

Two years

Answer

Five years

Answer

Seven years

Question 3

The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were notified by the Central Government —

Accepted Answer

under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, in supersession of the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001

Answer

under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in supersession of the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001

Answer

under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, in supersession of the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001

Answer

under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, in supersession of the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017

Question 4

Consider the following statements comparing the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 with the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 that they replaced:
1. Unlike the 2001 Rules, the 2023 framework extends sterilisation support norms to community cats in addition to dogs.
2. Under the 2023 Rules the duty of actually carrying out the sterilisation and immunisation programme has been shifted from local bodies to the Animal Welfare Board of India, which the 2001 Rules had left to municipalities.
3. The 2023 Rules align the programme with the Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release approach recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 5

With reference to the Supreme Court's order of 22 August 2025 in the Delhi-NCR street dog matter, which one of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

It was passed by a three-judge Bench, which directed that dogs picked up be sterilised, dewormed and immunised and then released in the same locality

Answer

It was passed by the same two-judge Bench that had issued the order of 11 August 2025, and it recalled that order in its entirety

Answer

It was passed by a five-judge Constitution Bench, which held the Animal Birth Control Rules to be unconstitutional

Answer

It was passed by a three-judge Bench, which confirmed that captured dogs were never to be released back into public spaces

Question 6

When the Supreme Court expanded its street dog directions to all States and Union Territories in November 2025, schools, colleges and hospitals were given what period within which to fence their premises?

Accepted Answer

Eight weeks

Answer

Four weeks

Answer

Six weeks

Answer

Twelve weeks

Question 7

With reference to the legal framework governing captive elephants in India, consider the following:
1. The Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 were framed under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and apply to an elephant in respect of which an ownership certificate has been issued.
2. The Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012 provide for the retirement of a captive elephant on its attaining 65 years of age.
3. Those Kerala Rules require the constitution of district-level committees ahead of festival seasons.
4. Cruelty towards a captive elephant is punishable exclusively under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 having no application to any animal held in captivity.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 8

Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, a certificate of ownership in respect of a captive wild animal in a person's lawful possession may be issued by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Chief Wild Life Warden of the State concerned

Answer

The Animal Welfare Board of India, functioning under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

Answer

The State Board for Wild Life of the State in which the animal is kept

Answer

The District Magistrate of the district in which the animal is kept

Question 9

Which one of the following most accurately reproduces the content of the fundamental duty contained in Article 51A(g) of the Constitution of India?

Accepted Answer

To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures

Answer

To value and preserve the rich heritage of the composite culture of the country and to have compassion for living creatures

Answer

To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to safeguard public property and abjure violence

Answer

To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, and to protect the wild life of the country

Question 10

In the fundamental duty relating to the natural environment, the Constitution sets out an express illustrative list of the elements of that environment which every citizen must protect and improve. How many elements are expressly named in that list?

Accepted Answer

Four

Answer

Three

Answer

Five

Answer

Six

Question 11

Consider the following pairs of Indian judicial decisions and their holdings on animal welfare:
1. Animal Welfare Board of India vs A. Nagaraja (2014) — jallikattu held violative of Sections 3, 11 and 22 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
2. Constitution Bench decision of 2023 — State amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act made by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra permitting jallikattu, kambala and bullock-cart racing upheld.
3. Nilgiris elephant corridor matter — the Supreme Court upheld the High Court's order affirming the animals' right of passage.
4. The street dog proceedings of 2025-26 — the Supreme Court conferred the status of legal persons on community dogs, holding their rights enforceable under Article 21.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 12

Consider the following statements distinguishing the Animal Welfare Board of India from the National Board for Wild Life:
1. The former is a statutory body established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, while the latter is constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. The Animal Welfare Board of India counts both the Inspector-General of Forests and the Animal Husbandry Commissioner to the Government of India among its ex officio members.
3. Unlike the National Board for Wild Life, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, the Animal Welfare Board of India has no representation of Members of Parliament in its membership.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — All animals need equal consideration

Q1. The statutory body charged with advising the Government on animal welfare, and which gives grants to animal welfare organisations, owes its existence to which one of the following provisions?

Q2. Under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the enhanced punishment prescribed for a repeat offender applies only if the later offence is committed within how many years of the previous offence?

Q3. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were notified by the Central Government —

Q5. With reference to the Supreme Court's order of 22 August 2025 in the Delhi-NCR street dog matter, which one of the following is correct?

Q6. When the Supreme Court expanded its street dog directions to all States and Union Territories in November 2025, schools, colleges and hospitals were given what period within which to fence their premises?

Q8. Under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, a certificate of ownership in respect of a captive wild animal in a person's lawful possession may be issued by which one of the following?

Q9. Which one of the following most accurately reproduces the content of the fundamental duty contained in Article 51A(g) of the Constitution of India?

Q10. In the fundamental duty relating to the natural environment, the Constitution sets out an express illustrative list of the elements of that environment which every citizen must protect and improve. How many elements are expressly named in that list?