Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution
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Correct Answer: Option (A) — It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
Concept & Option Breakdown
Standard Reference VerifiedOption (a) is correct: Species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 receive the absolute highest level of statutory protection and attract the most severe penalties for offences. Animals listed in Schedule I (such as the Tiger, Elephant, Blackbuck, and protected species of tortoises) share the exact same legal tier of protection against hunting, trade, and exploitation.
Options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect: Listing under Schedule I is not restricted to species that are extinct in the wild, nor does it necessarily imply endemism to a particular geographical region.
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