Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended several times to align domestic laws with international conventions (like CITES) and decentralized governance systems (like the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act PESA and Forest Rights Act).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2013 sought to introduce a new chapter (Chapter VB) to fulfill India's international obligations under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) by regulating the import, export, and trade of CITES-listed species.
- It also incorporated mandatory consultation with the Gram Sabha in scheduled areas before declaring any area as a sanctuary or modifying its boundaries to protect tribal forest rights.
- Although the 2013 bill was later modified and finally passed as the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, in standard administrative forestry question banks, this positive inclusion is historically associated with the 2013 Amendment Bill draft.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The positive step of incorporating CITES and Gram Sabha consultation was introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill 2013.