Q. Consider the following States:
- Chhattisgarh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Odisha
With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order? (UPSC Prelims 2019)
Answer:
3-2-4-1
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] 3-2-4-1.This question requires a comparison of the
Forest Cover as a percentage of the total geographical area of each state, based on the
India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
- Maharashtra (3 - Lowest in this group): While Maharashtra has a large absolute forest area, it has a vast geographical landmass. Its forest cover is approximately 16-17% of its total area.
- Madhya Pradesh (2): MP has the largest absolute forest area in India. However, relative to its massive size, its percentage of forest cover stands at approximately 25%.
- Odisha (4): Odisha maintains a significant portion of its land under forest. Its forest cover percentage is approximately 33%.
- Chhattisgarh (1 - Highest in this group): Chhattisgarh has a very high proportion of its land dedicated to forests due to its hilly terrain and tribal belts. Its forest cover is approximately 41%.
Comparison Table (Approximate ISFR Data)
| State | Forest Cover (%) | Rank in this Group |
| Maharashtra | ~16.5% | 1 (Lowest) |
| Madhya Pradesh | ~25.1% | 2 |
| Odisha | ~33.5% | 3 |
| Chhattisgarh | ~41.2% | 4 (Highest) |
Therefore, the
ascending order (lowest to highest) is
Maharashtra (3) < Madhya Pradesh (2) < Odisha (4) < Chhattisgarh (1).
Note: It is important to distinguish between "Total Area" (where MP leads) and "Percentage of Area" (where states like Mizoram or Arunachal Pradesh lead nationally, and Chhattisgarh leads in this specific list).