Chapter 11: INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS

Animal Welfare Board of India

The board is a statutory advisory body created under the Prevention of cruelty to animals act. Such a body was unique to the world. It was setup in 1962 to advice on animal welfare laws and policy making. HQ - Chennai. Board has 28 members with a three year term but can be renewed.

Functions and Powers: 

1. To advice central government on an amendments needed in the Prevention of cruelty to animals act.
2. Advice center and state on rules to be made for animal welfare.
3. Establish centers or provide grants to centers for rescue homes and animal shelters.
4. Devise humane ways for slaughtering of animals by local authorities and slaughter houses.

Central Zoo Authority

Statutory body under Wildlife Protection Act to regulate and form standards for establishment and recognition of zoos and ensure welfare of animals in them.

Functions:

1. To set standards for upkeep of zoos and recognise and derecognize zoos.
2. Assign endangered species to zoos for nurturing.
3. To undertake training programs for zoo personnel, coordinate and research in captive breeding, provide technical and other assistance to zoos.
4. To undertake other actions with regards to zoos as may be necessary under the act.

National Biodiversity Authority

Biodiversity Act, 2002 has created NBA and state biodiversity boards and biodiversity management committees. It is created to ensure fair and equitable benefits sharing that arise out of research on Indian biodiversity. Anyone seeking to obtain intellectual property rights to knowledge obtained out of research on biological resources has to obtain permission of NBA. NBA can impose conditions for approving grant of approvals. It also advices state governments to denote certain natural sites as heritage sites.

State biodiversity boards grants approval for bio-survey or bio-utilization or commercialization of biological resource by Indians.At local level, Biodiversity management committees are created for conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biodiversity.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

Statutory body created under Wildlife protection act to complement the efforts of states to prevent illegal activities related to wildlife like smuggling, poaching.

Functions:

1. Collect, collate and disseminate intelligence and help form wildlife data bank.
2. Coordinate enforcement activities of various agencies for implementing this act.
3. Implementation of obligations under various international conventions and protocols.
4. Assistance to foreign agencies for wildlife crime control, capacity building of officers and advice central and state governments on policies and laws.

National Ganga river basin authority

Constituted under Environment protection act in 2009 as a statutory body headed by the PM. The main functions are conservation and abatement of pollution of Ganga the national river. Chief ministers of a few states through which the river passes are also members. Authority has development and regulatory functions.

Collection and dissemination of information, implement conservation of river basin, reduction of pollution by issuing directives are its main functions. The ministry in charge of this body is Water resources ministry.

National Green Tribunal

It was created under the NGT Act for handling all cases related to Environmental issues.

It can have 20 members each from Judicial background and Expert members. It has powers of a civil court and is guided by Principles of Natural Justice. The judicial members have to be SC Judge or Chief Justice of High courts. Appeals against the orders of NGT have to be made to SC and within 90 days.

The cases filed under NGT have to be disposed within 6 months. HQ - Delhi with regional benches at Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.

National Board of Wildlife

It is constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act. PM is the chairman of the board and the vice chairman is the Union minister for Environment and forests.

The other members are MP's, Secretaries of the government of India from relevant departments, ecologists, conservationists , heads of Research institutes etc.

Functions of the Board:

1. Carry out Environment impact assessment for projects.


2. Making recommendations on the setting up of and management of national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas.


3. Decide on restriction of activities in those protected areas;


4. Reviewing the progress of measures taken for wildlife safety.


5. Frame policies for wildlife protection, forests and curbing illegal poaching.


6. No state can alter a Tiger reserve without approval of this body.


7. Publish reports on state of wild life in India.

Genetic Engineering Advisory Committee

It works under the Dept of Biotechnology, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change.

It approves field trials for genetically modified crops.

It can revoke, prohibit and take punitive action for non compliance.

It approves use of microbes in research, production from environmental point.

Q.With reference to an organization known as ‘Birdlife International’ which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (UPSC CSAT 2015)

• 1 only




• 2 and 3 only




• 1 and 3 only




• 1, 2 and 3

Ans . C

1. BirdLife international is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.

2. It is the World’s largest partnership of conservation organisations, with over 120 partner organizations 120 partner organizations. Together the BirdLife Partnership forms the leading authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life.

Q.With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (UPSC CSAT 2015)

• 1 only




• 2 and 3 only




• 1 and 3 only




• 1, 2 and 3

Ans . B

1. IUCN is a voluntary organization, not an agency of United Nations.

2. CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). States (countries) adhere voluntarily to the agreement.

3. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

Q.Consider the following statements:
Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? (UPSC CSAT 2014)

• 1 only




• 2 and 3 only




• 2 only




• 1, 2 and 3

Ans . B

1. Animal Welfare Board was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act

2. NGRBA chaired by PM

Q.With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements :
It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness.
It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC CSAT 2014)

• 1 and 3 only




• 2 only




• 2 and 3 only




• 1, 2 and 3

Ans . C

1. BNHS is designated as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by Department of Science & Technology.

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