Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
- (a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
- (b) South-West Bengal
- (c) Southern Saurashtra
- (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The Andaman & Nicobar Islands have tropical evergreen rainforests in the interior, moist deciduous forests on drier slopes, and extensive mangroves along tidal creeks and coasts — all three types together — option (d).
• North coastal Andhra (a) has deciduous forests and some mangroves but no evergreen; south-west Bengal (b) has mangroves (Sundarbans) and deciduous forest; southern Saurashtra (c) has dry deciduous and thorn forest.
• Hence option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
- North coastal Andhra lacks evergreen forest.
- (b) South-West Bengal
- South-west Bengal lacks evergreen forest.
- (c) Southern Saurashtra
- Southern Saurashtra lacks evergreen forest and has few mangroves.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.