Question map
The natural vegetation which covers the maximum geographical areas of India is
Explanation
Tropical deciduous forests cover the maximum geographical area of India, accounting for approximately 65% of the country's total forest cover. These are also known as monsoon forests and are widely distributed across regions receiving rainfall between 70 cm and 200 cm [3]. They are further classified into moist and dry deciduous types [3]. Moist deciduous forests are found in the foothills of the Himalayas, Eastern Ghats, and Western Ghats, while dry deciduous forests occupy vast tracts of the Peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh [4]. In contrast, tropical evergreen forests are restricted to heavy rainfall areas like the Western Ghats and Andaman Islands [1]. Montane forests are limited to high-altitude Himalayan regions, and thorn forests are confined to semi-arid northwestern parts of India [1].
Sources
- [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > social relevance of forests > p. 21
- [3] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 25
- [4] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Montane Forests > p. 45