Out of all the Biosphere Reserves in India, four have been recognized on the World Network by UNESCO. Which one of the following is not one of them?

Answer: (b) Kanchenjunga

Khangchendzonga was added to the UNESCO network only in 2018; in 2008 it was not on it.

The idea

There are two lists. India declares its own biosphere reserves (18 so far). UNESCO then admits some of them, one at a time, to its World Network. In 2008 only four Indian reserves were in that network, so the question must be answered as of that year.

Nilgiri, 2000 → Gulf of Mannar and Sundarbans, 2001 → Nanda Devi, 2004 → — the four of 2008 — → Nokrek, Pachmarhi, Simlipal, 2009 → Later: Achanakmar–Amarkantak, Great Nicobar, Agasthyamala, Khangchendzonga, Panna, Cold Desert

Why the others are wrong

(a) Gulf of Mannar was on the UNESCO list (2001).

(c) Nanda Devi was on the list (2004).

(d) Sundarbans was on the list (2001).

The trap

Today all four are on the UNESCO list. Answer by the year of the question.

Also know

UNESCO runs the biosphere reserve network under its Man and the Biosphere Programme. A reserve has a protected core, a buffer for activities compatible with conservation, and a transition area where people live and work sustainably. This network is separate from the World Heritage List and the Ramsar list of wetlands; recognition on one does not automatically mean recognition on another.