Natural Vegetation

1. Which of the following pairs of floristic regions is/are correctly mat

Which of the following pairs of floristic regions is/are correctly matched ?

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  • 1. The Western Himalayan region : Darjeeling and Kurseong
  • 2. The Eastern Himalayan region : Kashmir to Kumaon
  • 3. The Indus Plain region : Punjab, Western Rajasthan and Northern Gujarat

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1 only
1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2021-22
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The correct answer is C, as only the third pair is correctly matched.
India is divided into various floristic regions based on climate, topography, and vegetation characteristics. Statement 1 is incorrect because Darjeeling and Kurseong are located in the Eastern Himalayan region. Statement 2 is incorrect because the region from Kashmir to Kumaon falls under the Western Himalayan region. Statement 3 correctly identifies the Indus Plain region’s coverage, which includes parts of Punjab, Western Rajasthan, and Northern Gujarat, characterized by arid and semi-arid vegetation.
Broadly, India’s floristic regions include the Western Himalayas, Eastern Himalayas, Indus Plain, Gangetic Plain, Deccan Plateau, Malabar, Assam, Central India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These regions have distinct floral compositions influenced by their specific ecological conditions.

2. According to the India’s State of Forest Report, 2021, based on area-w

According to the India’s State of Forest Report, 2021, based on area-wise, which one of the following States is having the largest forest cover in the country?

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Madhya Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Chhattisgarh
Maharashtra
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2019-20
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The correct option is A. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country based on area.
– The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is a biennial report published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which assesses the forest and tree resources of the country.
– As per the ISFR 2021, the top five states in terms of forest cover area are:
1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Chhattisgarh
4. Odisha
5. Maharashtra
– The question specifically asks for the state with the largest forest cover based on *area-wise*.
It is important to distinguish between forest cover by area and forest cover as a percentage of the total geographical area. In terms of percentage of total geographical area, the top five states are Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland. Arunachal Pradesh appears in both lists but tops in percentage in the Northeast and is second in overall area.

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3. Guru Ghasidas National Park is situated in

Guru Ghasidas National Park is situated in

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Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
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Guru Ghasidas National Park is located in Chhattisgarh. It was formerly part of the Sanjay National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Following the bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, the part of Sanjay National Park that fell into the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh was renamed Guru Ghasidas National Park. It is situated in the Koriya and Surguja districts of Chhattisgarh.
The park is named after Guru Ghasidas, a prominent saint and social reformer of the Satnami sect. National parks are areas designated for the protection of wildlife and their habitats.
Guru Ghasidas National Park is part of the Sanjay-Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve, which was declared in 2021, becoming the fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh. The region is known for its diverse flora and fauna, including tigers, leopards, sambar, chital, and various bird species.

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4. Consider the following States : 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Himachal Pr

Consider the following States :

  • 1. Arunachal Pradesh
  • 2. Himachal Pradesh
  • 3. Mizoram

In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2015
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Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests are found in areas with high rainfall (typically over 200 cm annually) and high temperatures throughout the year. These conditions are prevalent in parts of Northeast India, including Arunachal Pradesh (in lower elevations) and Mizoram. Himachal Pradesh, being a Himalayan state, has primarily temperate and alpine forest types, not tropical wet evergreen forests. Therefore, Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests occur in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
Tropical Wet Evergreen forests are characterized by dense vegetation, tall trees, and multiple layers of canopy, found in warm and very wet regions. In India, they are primarily located in the Western Ghats, Northeast India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The diverse topography and climate of India lead to a variety of forest types. Arunachal Pradesh, being in the eastern Himalayas, has a range of forests from tropical evergreen in the foothills to alpine meadows at higher altitudes. Mizoram, part of the Lushai Hills in Northeast India, falls within the tropical monsoon climate zone with heavy rainfall, supporting evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Himachal Pradesh’s vegetation varies with altitude, including subtropical, temperate, and alpine zones.

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5. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangr

Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

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North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
South-West Bengal
Southern Saurashtra
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2015
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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands region of India is known for having a combination of mangrove forests, evergreen forests, and deciduous forests.
The diverse topography, rainfall patterns, and coastal/island geography of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands support these different forest types:
– **Mangrove forests:** Found along the coasts and creeks, adapted to saline water and tidal conditions.
– **Tropical Evergreen forests:** Cover large parts of the islands, especially in areas with high rainfall, characterised by dense canopy and diverse species.
– **Moist Deciduous forests:** Found in slightly drier areas or on certain slopes, where trees shed their leaves during a part of the year.
Other options like South-West Bengal (primarily mangroves and some deciduous), North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (mangroves and dry deciduous), and Southern Saurashtra (dry deciduous and scrub) do not typically exhibit the extensive combination of all three major forest types as found in the Andamans.
The islands are a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, contributing to the richness of flora and fauna found there. This combination of forest types makes the region ecologically unique in India.

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6. Which one of the following states of India has the largest area under

Which one of the following states of India has the largest area under dense evergreen forest cover ?

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Himachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Karnataka
Uttarakhand
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2019
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Based on forest survey data from India, Arunachal Pradesh consistently ranks among the top states with the largest area under dense forest cover, which includes vast tracts of tropical and subtropical evergreen forests due to its high rainfall and diverse topography. While states like Karnataka also have evergreen forests (in the Western Ghats), Arunachal Pradesh has a significantly larger total area under dense forest cover.
Identifying states with extensive dense evergreen forest cover requires knowledge of India’s diverse forest types and their geographical distribution, often correlated with rainfall patterns and topography. States in the Northeast, and parts of the Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, have significant evergreen forests.
The Forest Survey of India (FSI) reports classify forest cover into ‘Very Dense Forest’, ‘Moderately Dense Forest’, and ‘Open Forest’. Evergreen forests typically fall under the ‘Very Dense’ and ‘Moderately Dense’ categories in regions with high rainfall like the Northeast and the Western Ghats. Arunachal Pradesh has one of the highest percentages and total areas of Very Dense Forest cover in India.

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7. Which of the following statements are appropriate to Mangrove Sites?

Which of the following statements are appropriate to Mangrove Sites?

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  • 1. Mangrove plants require appropriate mix of saline water and freshwater.
  • 2. Mangrove plants require mudflats to enable it to grow and develop.
  • 3. Mangrove plants are found in the inter-tidal zones of sheltered coasts.
  • 4. Mangrove vegetation has been reported in all the coastal States including Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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1 and 2 only
2, 3 and 4 only
1, 3 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2018
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All four statements provided regarding Mangrove Sites are appropriate and factually correct.
– Mangrove plants are adapted to brackish environments, requiring a mix of saline and freshwater typically found in estuaries and coastal areas.
– They grow well on soft, muddy substrates characteristic of mudflats, which provide stability for their root systems.
– Mangrove ecosystems are primarily located in the inter-tidal zones along sheltered coastlines where sediment deposition occurs and wave action is limited.
– Mangrove vegetation, in varying degrees of cover, has been reported in all the coastal States (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal) and Union Territories (Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry) of India.
Mangroves play a crucial ecological role in coastal protection, nurseries for marine life, and carbon sequestration. India has significant mangrove cover, notably in the Sundarbans, Gujarat coast, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect and restore these vital ecosystems.

8. Which one of the following does NOT pass through the Kaziranga Nationa

Which one of the following does NOT pass through the Kaziranga National Park ?

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The Brahmaputra river
The Diphlu river
National Highway No. 37
Railway track of Indian Railway
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
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A major Railway track of Indian Railway does NOT pass through the core area of Kaziranga National Park.
Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Rhinoceros population. It is bounded by geographical features and infrastructure, including the Brahmaputra River to the north and National Highway 37 to the south.
The Brahmaputra River forms the northern boundary of the park. The Diphlu River is one of the several rivers that flow *through* the park, originating from the Karbi Anglong hills. National Highway 37 runs along the southern boundary and is a significant issue due to animal crossings. While there are railway lines in the vicinity of Kaziranga, they do not pass through the main body of the national park itself, unlike the highway and rivers which directly impact or traverse the park area.

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9. Which one of the following types of forests cover the largest area in

Which one of the following types of forests cover the largest area in India ?

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Tropical dry deciduous
Tropical moist deciduous
Tropical evergreen
Himalayan moist temperate
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
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Tropical dry deciduous forests cover the largest area in India.
Tropical dry deciduous forests are found in vast areas of the Indian subcontinent where rainfall is moderate (70-100 cm annually), and they shed their leaves during the dry season. This type of forest is widespread across the central parts of India.
Tropical moist deciduous forests require higher rainfall (100-200 cm) and are also significant but cover a smaller area than dry deciduous forests. Tropical evergreen forests are limited to high rainfall regions (over 200 cm), such as parts of the Western Ghats and Northeast India. Himalayan moist temperate forests are specific to the Himalayan region.

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10. Which one of the following States in India has the largest area under

Which one of the following States in India has the largest area under forest cover ?

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Maharashtra
Chhattisgarh
Madhya Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
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Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under forest cover among the given options.
Based on the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the states with the largest forest cover in terms of area (in sq km) are:
1. Madhya Pradesh (77,493 sq km)
2. Arunachal Pradesh (66,431 sq km)
3. Chhattisgarh (55,717 sq km)
4. Odisha (48,374 sq km)
5. Maharashtra (50,798 sq km) – Ranked 5th, but higher than Odisha in the report table. Order changes slightly year to year. Let’s re-check ISFR 2021 ranking by area. Top 5 states by forest cover area: MP, AP, CG, Odisha, Maharashtra.
Comparing the given options:
– Maharashtra: 50,798 sq km
– Chhattisgarh: 55,717 sq km
– Madhya Pradesh: 77,493 sq km
– Andhra Pradesh: 38,252 sq km
Madhya Pradesh has the largest area.
Madhya Pradesh consistently ranks as the state with the largest forest cover area in India in FSI reports. The question asks for the largest *area* under forest cover, not the largest *percentage* of geographical area under forest cover.

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