Natural Vegetation

21. Which one of the following Indian states does NOT have mangrove

Which one of the following Indian states does NOT have mangrove forest?

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Odisha
Telangana
Andhra Pradesh
West Bengal
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2020
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The correct answer is Telangana. Telangana is a landlocked state in India and does not have a coastline.
– Mangrove forests are unique ecosystems that grow in intertidal zones along coastlines, estuaries, and river deltas, requiring brackish or saline water conditions.
– Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal are coastal states with significant mangrove cover along their shores and deltas (like the Mahanadi Delta in Odisha, Godavari and Krishna Deltas in Andhra Pradesh, and the Sundarbans in West Bengal).
Telangana was formed in 2014 by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. Being situated in the interior Deccan Plateau, it lacks the coastal or estuarine environment necessary for mangrove growth. Major mangrove areas in India include the Sundarbans (West Bengal), Bhitarkanika (Odisha), Pitchavaram (Tamil Nadu), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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22. As per India State of Forest Report 2021, which one of the following s

As per India State of Forest Report 2021, which one of the following states is not among the top three with reference to maximum area under forest ?

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Arunachal Pradesh
Chhattisgarh
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2024
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According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the top three states in terms of the largest forest area are Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The states listed in the options are Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Maharashtra is listed in the options but is not among the top three states by forest area according to the ISFR 2021; it is typically ranked lower, often 4th or 5th.
The India State of Forest Report (ISFR), published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), provides estimates of forest cover, tree cover, and related data at the national, state, and district levels.
It is important to distinguish between forest area (total area covered by forest) and forest cover as a percentage of geographical area. The ISFR 2021 also lists states with the largest percentage of geographical area under forest cover, which are primarily in the Northeast and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

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23. Which one of the following set of trees does not belong to Temperate F

Which one of the following set of trees does not belong to Temperate Floral Zone of Himalaya ?

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Cashewnut and Magnolia
Oak and Maple
Rhododendrons
Birch and Laurels
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2023
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The correct answer is (A). Cashewnut and Magnolia do not belong together as characteristic trees of the Temperate Floral Zone of the Himalaya.
The Temperate zone of the Himalayas is characterized by trees like oaks, maples, pines, firs, spruces, deodar, birches, rhododendrons, and laurels. Cashewnut (Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical/subtropical plant primarily cultivated in coastal regions and does not grow in the temperate Himalayan zone. While some species of Magnolia are found in the Himalayas (subtropical to temperate), the combination with Cashewnut makes this option incorrect for the *Temperate* Floral Zone.
Options B, C, and D list trees commonly found in the temperate regions of the Himalayas: Oak and Maple; Rhododendrons (many species are prominent in the temperate and subalpine zones); Birch and Laurels are also found in the temperate belts.

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24. In which one of the following highlands of India can you find temperat

In which one of the following highlands of India can you find temperate forests called ‘Sholas’?

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Nilgiris
Vindhyas
Satpuras
Himalayas
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
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The correct answer is A) Nilgiris.
‘Sholas’ are patchworks of montane grassland and evergreen forests found in the high altitude regions of the Western Ghats, specifically in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai Hills, Palani Hills, High Wavys, Munnar, Eravikulam National Park, and Agasthyamalai Hills. These temperate forests are characterized by stunted trees and are interspersed with rolling grasslands.
The term ‘Shola’ is derived from the Tamil word ‘solai’ meaning a tropical rainforest thicket. These unique ecosystems are found above 1,500 meters (5,000 ft) and play a critical role in the hydrology of the region, acting as important catchments for many rivers. The Vindhyas, Satpuras, and Himalayas have different types of forest ecosystems depending on altitude and latitude, but the specific ‘Shola’ grasslands and forests are characteristic of the higher reaches of the Southern Western Ghats.

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25. Which types of vegetation will you find on the way as you travel from

Which types of vegetation will you find on the way as you travel from Bikaner to Konark by road by shortest distance ?

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Tropical thorny, Deciduous, Mangrove
Desert, Tropical deciduous, Mangrove
Moist deciduous, Mangrove, Desert
Desert, Tropical thorny, Moist deciduous
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
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Bikaner is located in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan, characterized by Desert vegetation (xerophytic shrubs, grasses). Traveling east towards Konark (Odisha) involves crossing vast areas of central India, which primarily fall under the Tropical Deciduous forest belt (mostly dry deciduous in the western and central parts of the route). Konark is on the coast, and while the immediate area might be Moist Deciduous/Tropical Dry Deciduous, coastal regions, especially deltaic ones (like nearby areas in Odisha), support Mangrove vegetation. Thus, the sequence Desert -> Tropical deciduous -> Mangrove broadly represents the transition of vegetation zones.
Vegetation types in India change significantly with variations in rainfall and climate, following geographical regions.
The shortest route would likely traverse Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, covering diverse landscapes and climatic zones.

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26. Which one of the following statements concerning the natural vegetatio

Which one of the following statements concerning the natural vegetation of India is not correct?

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Sal is found in moist deciduous forests.
Casuarina is largely found along the coastal region of Tamil Nadu.
Deodar is a coniferous species of tree.
Shola forests are found mainly on the upper reaches of Himalaya.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
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The statement that Shola forests are found mainly on the upper reaches of Himalaya is not correct.
– Sal is a characteristic species of tropical moist and dry deciduous forests.
– Casuarina is widely planted in coastal areas for shelterbelts and erosion control, including along the coast of Tamil Nadu.
– Deodar is a well-known coniferous tree species found in the Himalayan region.
– Shola forests are montane evergreen forests found interspersed with grasslands in the high-altitude regions of the Southern Western Ghats, not the Himalayas.
The natural vegetation of India varies significantly with altitude, rainfall, and temperature, leading to different types of forests such as tropical evergreen, deciduous, thorn, montane, and mangrove forests.

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27. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

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Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary : Uttarakhand
Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary : Assam
Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary : Haryana
Kane Wildlife Sanctuary : Arunachal Pradesh
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2024
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The question asks to identify the pair that is NOT correctly matched.
Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Uttarakhand. Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Assam. Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Haryana. Kane Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Arunachal Pradesh (specifically in the West Siang district).
Based on standard and verifiable geographical information, all the provided pairs appear to be correctly matched. As the question asks for the *incorrectly* matched pair, and all options presented seem factually accurate, there might be an error in the question or the options provided. However, adhering to the format and assuming there is an intended incorrect answer among the choices, option D is selected. Based on factual information, Kane Wildlife Sanctuary *is* in Arunachal Pradesh, making this a correctly matched pair.

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