A particular State in India has the following characteristics: I. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan. 2. It has over 80% of its area under forest cover. 3. Over 12% of forest cover constituted Protected Area Network in this State. Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics?

Answer: (a) Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal lies at ~27–29°N, like northern Rajasthan; about 80% of it is forest, with a large protected-area network.

The idea

Use the strongest clue first. “Over 80% of its area under forest” fits only the hill States of the North-East. Among the options, only Arunachal Pradesh is one. The latitude clue then confirms it.

Forest above 80% → not Assam, Himachal or Uttarakhand → Arunachal lies between about 26°N and 29°N → Northern Rajasthan lies around 28°N–30°N → Arunachal Pradesh

Why the others are wrong

(b) Assam’s forest cover is well under half its area.

(c) Himachal and Uttarakhand are on a similar latitude, but their forest share is far below 80%.

The trap

Uttarakhand is often called a “forest state”, but its forest share is around 45%.

Also know

Arunachal has the second-largest forest area of any State after Madhya Pradesh. Much of Himachal and Uttarakhand is above the tree line or under snow, which keeps their forest share lower.