According to the Forest Survey Report, 2021, area-wise which one of the following States has the largest forest cover in India?
- (a)Odisha
- (b)Madhya Pradesh
- (c)Arunachal Pradesh
- (d)Chhattisgarh
Correct — B, Madhya Pradesh. In the India State of Forest Report 2021 (published by the Forest Survey of India), Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area of any State, with roughly 77,000 square kilometres of forest. Its large geographical size and extensive central-Indian forests give it the top rank when the comparison is made in absolute area rather than as a percentage.
- (a)Odisha — Odisha has substantial forest cover but ranks below Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in absolute forest area.
- (c)Arunachal Pradesh — Arunachal Pradesh is heavily forested and ranks second by area, but its total forest cover is smaller than Madhya Pradesh's.
- (d)Chhattisgarh — Chhattisgarh has a large forest cover and ranks high, but by area it comes after Madhya Pradesh.
The Forest Survey of India publishes the India State of Forest Report every two years, mapping forest and tree cover from satellite data. 'Largest forest cover by area' means the greatest absolute area under forest, which is different from the highest percentage of a State's area under forest — a distinction that changes the ranking.
The trap is the phrase 'area-wise'. By percentage of geographical area the north-eastern States lead, but the question asks for the largest area of forest, and there Madhya Pradesh — a very large central-Indian State — comes first, as it consistently does in the ISFR.
- The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
- By area, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover, about 77,000 sq km.
- The next-largest by area are Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
- By percentage of geographical area, small north-eastern States such as Mizoram rank highest, unlike the by-area ranking.
- Reading 'area-wise' as 'percentage-wise' and picking a small heavily-forested State.
- Confusing forest cover (satellite-mapped) with recorded forest area (legal designation).
As a data-recall item from the latest ISFR asking for the top State by a specified measure.
Consider the following States: 1. Chhattisgarh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha. With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
- (a) 2-3-1-4
- (b) 2-3-4-1
- (c) 3-2-4-1
- (d) 3-2-1-4
Answer(c) 3-2-4-1 (Maharashtra < Madhya Pradesh < Odisha < Chhattisgarh)
Same forest-cover comparison among central-Indian States (Madhya Pradesh included) and the very area-vs-percentage distinction this NDA item hinges on.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is published by which organisation?
- (a)Forest Survey of India
- (b)Botanical Survey of India
- (c)National Remote Sensing Centre
- (d)Wildlife Institute of India
Answer(a) Forest Survey of India — under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which State generally has the highest forest cover as a percentage of its geographical area?
- (a)Mizoram
- (b)Madhya Pradesh
- (c)Rajasthan
- (d)Punjab
Answer(a) Mizoram — small north-eastern States lead on percentage, unlike the by-area ranking.