Consider the following statements with reference to Uttar Pradesh –
1. Forests constitute about 12.8% of the total geographical area of the state.
2. The districts of Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Ballia have

Question

Consider the following statements with reference to Uttar Pradesh –
1. Forests constitute about 12.8% of the total geographical area of the state.
2. The districts of Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Ballia have no forest land.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

As per the official UPPSC key, both statements are treated as correct, so the answer is B (Both 1 and 2). Statement 2 is the more clearly verifiable half — Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Ballia are intensively cultivated districts of the eastern Ganga plain (Purvanchal), alluvial tracts recorded as having virtually no forest land. Statement 1 is the figure the commission's source uses for the state's forest area (about 12.8% of the geographical area). Note the caution below: the Forest Survey of India's actual forest COVER for UP is much lower (around 6-9% depending on the report year), so '12.8%' reflects a different (recorded/notified-forest or state-textbook) measure rather than FSI's satellite-based cover — but the key marks statement 1 correct.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) The key accepts both statements, so rejecting both is wrong.  (c) Understates it — the key also treats statement 1 (the forest-area percentage) as correct.  (d) Understates it — the key also treats statement 2 (the three forest-less eastern-plain districts) as correct.

Concept: Uttar Pradesh is overwhelmingly an agricultural, alluvial state: the vast Ganga plain is fully cultivated, so recorded forest is concentrated in the Terai/Bhabar belt (Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Sohagi Barwa) and the Vindhyan/Bundelkhand south (Sonbhadra, Mirzapur). Two very different numbers circulate for 'how much forest': the Forest Survey of India's satellite-measured forest COVER (a low single-digit percentage for UP) and the larger recorded/notified forest AREA used in some state texts. This question relies on the latter framing.

State PCS 2023 Q58 — Geography PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q58 — Geography PYQ with Answer