Which of the following Acts provides for protection to wild animals in India?

The correct answer is A) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This is the central law that protects wild animals, birds and plants across India. It sets up a schedule-based protection system (Schedules I to VI), creates protected areas such as national parks, sanctuaries and conservation reserves, regulates hunting and trade in wildlife products, and provides for the National Board for Wildlife. It has been amended several times, most notably in 2002 and 2022, the latter strengthening provisions on invasive alien species and the central zoo authority.

• B: There is no "Forests Protection Act, 1982". The relevant law is the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which regulates diversion of forest land for non-forest use. It is not an animal protection statute.
• C: The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in 1986, not 1996. It is an umbrella law for environmental pollution control and is not the wildlife statute.
• D: The West Bengal Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act, 1959 was a state-level law limited to West Bengal. The central 1972 Act has overtaken it nationally, so it is not the correct national answer.

Core concept: statutory protection of wildlife and the protected area network. This links to GS-III (environment and biodiversity) and to Mains questions on human-wildlife conflict and balancing development projects against conservation.

Trap: Aspirants pick the Forest Act or the EP Act because they sound broader. Remember which law covers animals, which covers forest land and which covers pollution.