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Q52 (IAS/2015) Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Protected Areas › National parks network Official Key

Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D - Namdapha National Park. Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh is unique among Indian national parks due to its exceptional altitudinal range, spanning from approximately 200 meters to over 4,500 meters above sea level. This dramatic elevation gradient creates distinct climatic zones within the park boundaries.

The park encompasses tropical-subtropical[4] forests at lower elevations and temperate-boreal[3] forests and woodlands at higher altitudes. As elevation increases further, the climate transitions through temperate zones into alpine and arctic conditions near the peaks. This makes Namdapha one of the few protected areas in the world where such a complete spectrum of climatic zones exists within a single park.

The other options - Khangchendzonga, Nandadevi, and Neora Valley National Parks - while located in mountainous regions with significant elevation ranges, do not encompass the same comprehensive range from tropical through arctic zones. Namdapha's location in the Eastern Himalayas and its vast altitudinal span give it this distinctive characteristic, supporting an incredibly diverse range of ecosystems and species adapted to different climatic conditions.

Sources
  1. [1] https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-037-En.pdf
  2. [2] https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-037-En.pdf
  3. [3] https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-037-En.pdf
  4. [4] https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-037-En.pdf
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Q. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic? [A] Khangchendzo…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 ¡ 0/10
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This is a classic 'Superlative' question. UPSC loves National Parks that hold a unique record (e.g., 'only floating park', 'widest climate range'). The phrase 'Tropical to Arctic' is the specific Unique Selling Point (USP) of Namdapha in standard geography and environment modules.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does Khangchendzonga National Park have a climate that ranges from tropical and subtropical through temperate to arctic?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Climates of India > Types of Climates in India > p. 48
Strength: 5/5
“We have often seen how India is a land of diversity. This is equally true of its climate: • In the north, the Himalayan mountains have an alpine climate with cold, snowy winters and cool summers (the word 'alpine' comes from the Alps, a mountain range of Europe). That's probably where you will see the thickest clothing in India!• Lower in the Himalayas, and in many hilly areas of India, the climate is often said to be temperate, as the winters are moderately cold and the summers not too hot. That is where we find many 'hill stations', much frequented by people seeking relief from the heat in the plains below. • In the northern plains, the climate is subtropical, with very hot summers and cold winters.”
Why relevant

Explains that the Himalayas include alpine (cold/snowy) climates and lower Himalayan zones are temperate, while lower plains are subtropical—showing vertical zonation in Himalayan regions.

How to extend

A student could combine this rule of vertical climatic zonation with the park's position in the Himalayas and its elevation range (from a map or park data) to judge whether multiple climate bands are plausible.

INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate > FACTORS DETERMINING THE CLIMATE OF INDIA > p. 29
Strength: 4/5
“India's climate is controlled by a number of factors. Latitude : You already know the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the land of India. You also know that the Tropic of Cancer passes through the central part of India in east-west direction. Thus, northern part of the India lies in sub-tropical and temperate zone and the part lying south of the Tropic of Cancer falls in the tropical zone. The tropical zone being nearer to the equator, experiences high temperatures throughout the year with small daily and annual range. Area north of the Tropic of Cancer being away from the equator, experiences extreme climate with high daily and annual range of temperature.”
Why relevant

States latitude (Tropic of Cancer) splits India into tropical and subtropical/temperate zones, giving a latitudinal basis for different climate zones within India.

How to extend

Using the park's latitude on a map relative to the Tropic of Cancer, a student could infer whether tropical/subtropical influences are possible at lower elevations of the park.

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Climate > Latitude > p. 27
Strength: 3/5
“The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the country from the Rann of Kuchchh in the west to Mizoram in the east. Almost half of the country, lying south of the Tropic of Cancer, belongs to the tropical area. All the remaining area, north of the Tropic, lies in the sub-tropics. Therefore, India's climate has characteristics of tropical as well as subtropical climates.”
Why relevant

Reiterates that parts of India south of the Tropic of Cancer are tropical and areas north are subtropical—useful for assessing broad climatic potential of northern Himalayan locations.

How to extend

Combine the park's latitudinal location with this latitudinal climate division to assess likely presence of tropical/subtropical versus temperate zones at different elevations.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Warm Temperate (Mid-Latitude) Climates-C > p. 93
Strength: 3/5
“Warm temperate (mid-latitude) climates extend from 30° - 50° of latitude mainly on the eastern and western margins of continents. These climates generally have warm summers with mild winters. They are grouped into four types: (i) Humid subtropical, i.e. dry in winter and hot in summer (Cwa); (ii) Mediterranean (Cs); (iii) Humid subtropical, i.e. no dry season and mild winter (Cfa); (iv) Marine west coast climate (Cfb).”
Why relevant

Defines warm temperate (mid-latitude) climates and their latitude bands (30°–50°) and characteristics, supplying a framework for identifying temperate climate at certain latitudes/elevations.

How to extend

A student could compare the park's latitude and known elevation-dependent lapse rates (standard outside knowledge) to see if temperate conditions could occur within the park.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 23: The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate > Distribution > p. 216
Strength: 3/5
“The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate is experienced only in the northern hemisphere where the continents within the high latitudes have a broad east-west spread (Fig. 23.1). On its poleward side, it merges into the Arctic tundra of Canada and Eurasia at around the Arctic Circle. Southwards, the climate becomes less severe and fades into the temperate Steppe climate dealt with in Chapter 20. The predominant vegetation of this Siberian or 'sub-Arctic' type of ilimate is evergreen coniferous forest. It stretches in a great, continuous belt across North America, Europe and Asia. The greatest single band of the coniferous forest is the taiga (a Russian word for coniferous forest) in Siberia.”
Why relevant

Describes the progression from sub-Arctic/taiga to Arctic tundra poleward and the concept of climate zones changing with latitude, a general pattern of zonation.

How to extend

Using this pattern, a student could reason that extremely high elevations (analogous to higher latitudes in climatic effect) in the park might support arctic-like climates, if elevations are sufficient.

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