Study Notes on National Parks In India

By Mohit Choudhary|Updated : October 9th, 2022

Environment section in the UGC NET Paper I is a vibrant topic, it includes both dynamic as well as static portions. Today we will have a look at the static part related Wildlife and Biodiversity in India. National parks are the pinnacle of Wildlife and biodiversity in India, and they are been praised all over the world over their uniqueness. Here, we are going to discuss the categorisation of wildlife areas in India which includes National Parks too. 

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Environment section in the UGC NET Paper I is a vibrant topic, it includes both dynamic as well as static portions. Today we will have a look at the static part related Wildlife and Biodiversity in India. National parks are the pinnacle of Wildlife and biodiversity in India, and they are been praised all over the world over their uniqueness. Here, we are going to discuss the categorisation of wildlife areas in India which includes National Parks too. 

Protected areas of India

  • There are four categories of Protected areas in India.
  • Constituted under the provisions of Wildlife ( Protection) ACT, 1972.
  • Four types of protected areas are-
    (a) National Park
    (b) Wildlife Sanctuaries
    (c) Conservation reserves
    (d) Community reserves 

(a) National Park

  • Classified as IUCN category II
  • Any area notified by state govt to be constituted as a National Park or decided by the Central government.
  • There are 104 national parks in India.
  • First national park in India- Jim Corbett National Park (previously known as Hailey National Park)
  • No human activity/ rights allowed except for the ones permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state.
  • It covered 1.23 Percent geographical area of India
  • Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of National Park i.e. 10
  • Largest National Park in India- Hemi National Park (J&K)
  • Latest entry: Kuno National Park (MP)- Dec 2018

(b) Wildlife Sanctuaries

  • Classified as IUCN category II
  • Any area notified by state govt to be constituted as a wildlife sanctuary.
  • Certain rights are available to the people. Example- grazing etc.
  • There are 543 wildlife sanctuaries in India.
  • It covered 3.62 Percent geographical area of India

(c) Conservation reserves

  • These categories added in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002.
  • Buffer zones between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.
  • Uninhabited and completely owned by the Government.
  • It covered 0.08 Percent geographical area of India

(d) Community reserves

  • These categories added in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002.
  • Buffer zones between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.
  • Used for subsistence by communities and community areas because part of the land is privately owned.
  • It covered 0.002 Percent geographical area of India. 

Wildlife Protection Act of 1972

  • It is applicable to the whole of India.
  • It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection. 
  • Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute protection - offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.
  • Schedule III and Schedule IV have Species listed as protected and have lower penalties.
  • Schedule V includes the animals which may be hunted, also called Vermin. 
  • Schedule VI contains endemic plants which are prohibited from cultivation and planting.

Project related to wildlife

  • Project Tiger - 1973
  • Operation Crocodile - 1975
  • Project Rhinoceros - 1987
  • Project Hangul - 1970s
  • Project Elephant - 1992
  • Project Snow Leopard - 2009
  • Project Sea Turtle - 1999

Hope you guys find this information helpful for your UGC NET Paper I and will be able to attempt the question from this part in UGC NET Paper 1. 

Thank you!

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