Consider the following States : 1. Chhattisgarh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. 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?

(a) 2-3-1-4
(b) 2-3-4-1
(c) 3-2-4-1 ✓ UPSC's answer
(d) 3-2-1-4

Why the answer is (c)

• By the India State of Forest Report 2017, forest cover as a percentage of State area was: Maharashtra about 16.5%, Madhya Pradesh about 25.1%, Odisha about 33.0%, Chhattisgarh about 41.1%.

• Ascending order is therefore Maharashtra (3) – Madhya Pradesh (2) – Odisha (4) – Chhattisgarh (1).

• Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area in absolute terms, but Chhattisgarh has the higher percentage; the question asks for percentage.

• Hence 3-2-4-1, option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 2-3-1-4: Maharashtra has the lowest percentage, and Chhattisgarh the highest.
(b) 2-3-4-1: Maharashtra, not MP, has the lowest percentage.
(d) 3-2-1-4: Odisha's percentage is lower than Chhattisgarh's, so 4 precedes 1.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.