Wildlife Protection(Amendment) Act, 2022
The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022 was passed by the Indian Parliament on March 30, 2022, and came into force on June 4, 2022.
The Act amends the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which is the primary legislation for wildlife conservation in India.
Significant changes to the original Act, including:
Reducing the number of schedules: The original Act had six schedules, which listed different categories of protected species. The amended Act reduces the number of schedules to 4.
Wildlife Protection(Amendment) Act, 2022
Adding new species : The amended Act adds a number of new species to the list of protected species, including the Indian leopard cat, the pangolin, and the smooth-coated otter.
Allowing the use of elephants for religious purposes:
New authority for wildlife conservation: Act establishes a new authority, called the National Wildlife Conservation Authority, to oversee the implementation of the Act.
Wildlife Protection(Amendment) Act, 2022
Act welcomed by many conservationists, who believe that it will help to strengthen wildlife protection in India.
Some critics have argued that the Act weakens wildlife protection by allowing the use of elephants for religious purposes.
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