Indian Physical Geography : Resources-Their Distribution

Q 6 / 13

UPSC CSE Prelims 2012

A particular State in India has the following characteristics:

  1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan.
  2. It has over 80% of its area under forest cover.
  3. Over 12% of forest cover constitutes Protected Area Network in this State.
Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

  • Latitude: The 27°N latitude passes through Arunachal Pradesh and also through the northern parts of Rajasthan (e.g., Jhunjhunu/Bikaner region).
  • Forest Cover: Arunachal Pradesh has over 80% of its geographical area under forest cover, making it one of the states with a very high percentage of forest cover in India.
  • Protected Area Network: More than 12% of the state's forest cover is designated as Protected Areas, including National Parks (e.g., Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park) and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Incorrect Options

  • (b) Assam: Assam's forest cover is significant but does not exceed 80% of its geographical area. Its latitudinal extent also differs from northern Rajasthan.
  • (c) Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh is a hilly state, but its forest cover is approximately 27% of its geographical area, which is significantly lower than 80%.
  • (d) Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand possesses rich biodiversity, but its forest cover ranges between 45-50% of its geographical area, which is below the 80% criterion.
SOURCEForest Survey of India (FSI) State of Forest Report (SFR) 2011, NCERT Class 11 Geography Chapter 1: India – Location, NCERT Class 11 Geography Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation