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Question

Difficulty: MediumNational Environmental Legislation, Acts and Policies in India

Match List-I (Environmental Legislations in India) with List-II (Key Statutory Mandates / Provisions) and identify the correct matching pairs:

  • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972Statutory establishment of the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) chaired by the Prime Minister
  • Environment (Protection) Act, 1986Power to issue notifications declaring Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around Protected Areas
  • Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980Mandatory prior approval of the Central Government for de-reservation or non-forest use of forest land
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002Establishment of local-level Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) for benefit sharing

Answer

Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 matches with the Statutory establishment of NBWL chaired by the PM; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 matches with the Power to issue notifications declaring Eco-Sensitive Zones; Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 matches with Mandatory prior approval of the Central Government for non-forest use of forest land; and Biological Diversity Act, 2002 matches with the Establishment of local-level Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
The correct pairings accurately align each major environmental law with its specific statutory mandate: the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 establishes the NBWL headed by the Prime Minister; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provides the legal basis to notify Eco-Sensitive Zones around protected areas; the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 mandates central government approval for diversion of forest land; and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 provides for local-level Biodiversity Management Committees.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the statutory body associated with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the statutory framework for the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), which is headed by the Prime Minister of India.
NBWL was formally constituted under Section 5A inserted into the 1972 Act.
2
Determine the statutory backing for declaring Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).
Eco-Sensitive Zones are notified under Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The term 'Eco-Sensitive Zone' is not explicitly mentioned in the Wild Life Act, but regulation of activities around sanctuaries is executed via the delegated powers of EPA 1986.
3
Identify the core mandate of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The 1980 Act restricts state governments from diverting forest land for non-forest purposes without prior sanction of the Central Government.
This central control was enacted to check rapid deforestation across states.
4
Match the institutional framework of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The 2002 Act creates a decentralised structure culminating in Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at local governance levels.
BMCs prepare People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and ensure fair access and benefit sharing.

Key Concept

Key Statutory Frameworks and Authorities under Indian Environmental Acts
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Topics

National Environmental Legislation, Acts and Policies in India