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Topic Forest Cover
Asked 4 times across 3 UPSC exams over 24 years (1999–2023), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 2 of 4 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 3 years (1999–2023)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1999 → CDS 2023 → CISF 2023
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (2 of 4) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2023
There is an increase in forest cover area of India between 2011 and 2021. However, there is a decrease in forest cover area of India during the same period in
- A very dense forest (canopy density of more than 70 percent)
- B moderately dense forest (canopy density between 40-70 percent) ✓
- C open forest (canopy density between 10-20 percent)
- D both (b) and (c)
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation
CISF2023
In terms of area under forest cover, the top three states in India are :
- A Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh ✓
- B Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya
- C Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha
- D Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation
CSE2004
Amongst the following Indian States which one has the minimum total forest cover? (2004)
- A Sikkim
- B Goa
- C Haryana ✓
- D Kerala
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation
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