Q100. Which characteristic is associated with India’s montane forests?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-II (13 Oct 2025, Shift 1)]
(A) Dominance of teak
(B) Royal Bengal tigers in tidal creeks
(C) Broadleaf oaks and chestnuts
(D) Dominance of ebony and mahogany
Answer: (C) Broadleaf oaks and chestnuts
Explanation: Wet temperate montane forests include broadleaf trees such as oak and chestnut. Their composition changes with elevation, temperature and exposure. Teak typifies tropical deciduous forests, while ebony and mahogany are associated with tropical evergreen vegetation.
Q99. Which is an example of a tree found in montane forests around 1,500–3,000 metres?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims (18 Oct 2025, Shift 3)]
(A) Pine
(B) Sundari
(C) Rosewood
(D) Teak
Answer: (A) Pine
Explanation: Pines are conifers commonly found in mountain forests, especially in the Himalayan region. Their needle-shaped leaves help limit moisture loss. Sundari belongs to coastal mangroves, whereas rosewood and teak are associated with different lowland tropical forest types.
Q98. Which statements are NOT correct about tropical evergreen forests?
1. They are confined to the Eastern Ghats.
2. All trees shed leaves during summer.
3. They require heavy rainfall.
4. Ebony and rosewood occur in them.
[OPSC OAS Prelims (12 Oct 2025)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 3 and 4 only
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Evergreen forests occur in multiple humid Indian regions, notably the Western Ghats and northeastern hills, not only the Eastern Ghats. Trees do not shed all leaves in one summer season. High rainfall and hardwood species are characteristic.
Q97. In which state is the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve located?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I (14 Aug 2025, Shift 2)]
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) West Bengal
(C) Assam
(D) Odisha
Answer: (B) West Bengal
Explanation: The Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve lies in coastal West Bengal in the Ganga delta. Its mangrove-rich landscape includes tidal waterways and islands. The reserve is important for protecting coastal biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Q96. Where rainfall is below around 70 cm annually, which natural vegetation generally develops?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims (23 Oct 2025, Shift 1)]
(A) Tropical rainforest
(B) Mangrove forest
(C) Tropical thorn forest and scrub
(D) Tropical evergreen forest
Answer: (C) Tropical thorn forest and scrub
Explanation: Thorn forests develop under dry conditions, generally below 70 centimetres of annual rainfall. Trees and shrubs often have thorns, deep roots and small leaves. These features reduce transpiration and improve survival during prolonged water shortages.
Q95. The Sundarbans are best known for which vegetation?
[MP Police ASI/Subedar (17 Dec 2025, Shift 2)]
(A) Alpine vegetation
(B) Tropical evergreen forests
(C) Mangrove vegetation
(D) Desert scrub
Answer: (C) Mangrove vegetation
Explanation: Sundarbans vegetation consists chiefly of mangrove species able to tolerate salt and repeated tidal flooding. The forests extend through the low-lying Ganga delta and are crucial for fish breeding, sediment retention and coastal storm protection.
Q94. Scrub vegetation in India is mainly associated with which forest type?
[RPF Constable (11 Mar 2025, Shift 3)]
(A) Tropical thorn forest
(B) Montane forest
(C) Littoral swamp forest
(D) Tropical evergreen forest
Answer: (A) Tropical thorn forest
Explanation: Tropical thorn forest includes scattered trees, scrub and hardy bushes adapted to low rainfall. Its characteristic distribution is in northwestern India. Water conservation is aided by thorns, reduced leaf area and extensive root systems.
Q93. Tropical thorn forests are common in which group of Indian states?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims (15 Oct 2025, Shift 1)]
(A) Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
(B) Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar
(C) Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana
(D) Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya
Answer: (C) Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana
Explanation: Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana include extensive arid and semiarid tracts suitable for thorn scrub. Sparse rainfall and long dry periods favour drought-resistant species. The wetter northeastern states support very different types of vegetation.
Q92. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, mangrove cover was approximately what percentage of India’s geographical area?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims (11 Nov 2025, Shift 2)]
(A) 0.25%
(B) 0.15%
(C) 0.10%
(D) 0.35%
Answer: (B) 0.15%
Explanation: India’s mangrove cover occupies only a small proportion of its total geographical area. Despite their limited area, these coastal forests provide valuable ecosystem services including protection from wave damage, carbon storage and nursery habitat for aquatic species.
Q91. In which forest zone of the world has the highest deforestation been recorded?
[RPSC RAS Prelims (2 Feb 2025)]
(A) Coniferous
(B) Tropical
(C) Savanna deciduous
(D) Tidal
(E) Question not attempted
Answer: (B) Tropical
Explanation: Tropical forests, especially rainforests, have experienced severe deforestation from agricultural expansion, logging and infrastructure development. India’s Western Ghats and northeastern humid forests face comparable land-use pressures. Tropical deforestation threatens biodiversity and carbon storage.
