Which of the following is NOT a globally-accepted biodiversity hotspot of India?
- (a)Himalaya
- (b)Naro Hills
- (c)Sundaland
- (d)Western Ghats
Correct — B, Naro Hills. India's territory falls within four internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots (as defined by Conservation International): the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland (which extends to the Nicobar Islands), and the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka. 'Naro Hills' does not correspond to any of these four named hotspots, making it the odd one out among the options.
- (a)Himalaya — One of the four biodiversity hotspots recognised for India, valued for its exceptional plant endemism and altitude-driven habitat diversity.
- (c)Sundaland — One of the four recognised hotspots touching India — its Indian portion is represented by the Nicobar Islands.
- (d)Western Ghats — The Western Ghats (paired with Sri Lanka) is one of the four recognised hotspots, known for its endemic amphibians, reptiles and flowering plants.
A 'biodiversity hotspot' (Conservation International's definition) is a region with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species that has already lost 70% or more of its original habitat. Of the world's roughly three dozen hotspots, four touch Indian territory: the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, and the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka.
'Which one is NOT a hotspot' questions usually plant genuine, well-known regions alongside one unfamiliar or invented-sounding name. The fastest check is to recall the fixed list of four Indian hotspots and see which option fails to match any of them, rather than trying to judge the unfamiliar name on its own merits.
- India's four recognised biodiversity hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka
- A hotspot needs at least 1,500 endemic plant species AND at least 70% habitat loss
- Sundaland's Indian portion is the Nicobar Islands
- The hotspot concept and global list originate from Conservation International
India touches four global hotspots — Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka; the fourth name here isn't one of them.
- Confusing 'biodiversity hotspot' (a global scientific classification) with any biodiversity-rich Indian region in general
- Splitting the Himalaya into 'Eastern' and 'Western' as two separate hotspots — it is counted as one
Almost always a 'which of these is/is not a recognised hotspot' or match-the-list question naming the four hotspots plus one decoy region.
Consider the following statements : 1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions. 2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Tests the same core fact — the actual list of India's biodiversity hotspots — by planting a wrong list (Eastern/Western Himalayas + Andaman-Nicobar) in place of the real one (Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, Western Ghats).
- practice — not a real PYQ
How many internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots does India's territory fall within?
- (a)2
- (b)3
- (c)4
- (d)5
Answer(c) 4 — Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, and Western Ghats–Sri Lanka.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Indian portion of the 'Sundaland' biodiversity hotspot is represented by:
- (a)Andaman Islands
- (b)Nicobar Islands
- (c)Lakshadweep
- (d)Western Ghats
Answer(b) Nicobar Islands — the Sundaland hotspot's Indian extension.