Why in News?
The National Board for Wildlife’s standing committee approved 30 critical Defence projects along India’s border with China, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, balancing strategic needs with wildlife safeguards, including measures to limit forest loss in tiger reserves.
Description:
- Statutory body under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
- Constituted via 2022 amendment to the WLPA.
- Replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife (formed in 1952).
- India’s apex advisory body on wildlife conservation, especially for Protected Areas (PAs).
- Guides Government decisions on wildlife issues and approves projects in PAs.
Key Functions / Powers:
- Mandatory NBWL approval needed for:
- Construction of tourist lodges in PAs.
- Alteration of PA boundaries.
- Destruction/diversion of wildlife habitat.
- De-notification of Tiger Reserves.
- Advises on policy and strategy for wildlife conservation.
Organisational Structure:
- 47-member committee.
- Chairperson: Prime Minister of India.
- Vice-Chairperson: Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
- Members include:
- Chiefs of Army Staff, Defence Secretary, Expenditure Secretary.
- Institutions involved in wildlife conservation.
- 10 eminent conservationists, ecologists, environmentalists (nominated by Central Government).
- Member-Secretary: Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) & Director, Wildlife Preservation.
Standing Committee of NBWL
- Subset of NBWL.
- Comprises ≤ 10 NBWL members.
- Chaired by Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
- Key difference in role:
- NBWL: Policy and advisory body.
- Standing Committee: Project clearance body (evaluates, clears individual projects in PAs).
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
