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UPSC Prelims 2010 · Environment · Nature’s Machinery
In India, which type of forest among the following occupies the largest area?
- (a) Montane Wet Temperate Forest
- (b) Sub-tropical Dry Evergreen Forest
- (c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
- (d) Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
Tropical moist deciduous forest — teak, sal — covers the largest area among the given options, where 100–200 cm rain falls with a dry season.
The idea
India has a monsoon climate: rain for four months and dry for the rest. Most of the country therefore carries deciduous forest, which sheds its leaves in the dry months. Evergreen and mountain forests need special conditions and are found only in small belts.
Wet evergreen: only Western Ghats, North-East, islands → Montane temperate: only high hills → Dry evergreen: only small pockets → Moist deciduous: wide belts across central, eastern and southern India
Why the others are wrong
(a) Montane wet temperate forest is limited to high mountains.
(b) Subtropical dry evergreen forest is small, in the Siwaliks and western Himalayan foothills.
(d) Wet evergreen forest is limited to the Western Ghats, NE and islands.
The trap
Rainforest feels like “typical” tropical forest. India’s monsoon climate favours deciduous forest.
Also know
India’s forests are classified into 16 major types by Champion and Seth.
🔒 Among these four, tropical moist deciduous covers the largest area. In the Forest Survey’s mapping, tropical dry deciduous (not an option here) covers even more.