Question 86 from UPSC CSE 2020 - ENVIRONME NT

Question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. A license is required to cultivate that plant.

Strategy: Focus on the legal restrictions for Schedule VI plants under the Wildlife Protection Act, specifically regarding statutory licensing. These plants require official permission for cultivation; they cannot be freely cultivated. Identify keywords like 'Schedule VI', 'license', and 'cultivation' to pinpoint the correct answer. Dismiss other options that do not align with the Act's provisions.

Key Info: ## Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule VI Plants

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is India's principal law for safeguarding wild flora and fauna. It features six schedules, each offering varying degrees of protection.

### Schedule VI Details
*   **Focus**: Exclusively deals with plant species declared as threatened or endangered.
*   **Examples**: Includes several species of orchids and certain rare medicinal plants.
*   **Regulation**: Cultivation, possession, or trade in these plants is strictly regulated.
*   **Licensing**: Section 17C specifically prohibits cultivation of any 'specified plant' in Schedule VI without a license from the Chief Wildlife Warden or an empowered authority.
*   **Offences**: Can lead to fines or imprisonment.
*   **Aim**: Prevents exploitation and extinction by regulating human activity around these species, aiming to conserve rare/endemic plant biodiversity.
*   **Clarification**: The Act imposes a regulated, license-based control mechanism; it does not label Schedule VI plants as genetically modified, invasive, or universally prohibited.
*   **'Specified Plant'**: Refers only to plants explicitly listed, such as Beddome's cycad and Blue Vanda.

### Other Schedules
*   Schedules I-IV: Protect wild animals.
*   Schedule V: Deals with vermin.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: It is a genetically modified crop plant.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem.