Prelims 2015 · archive
EasyIn a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique 'living root bridges' are found in
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) Meghalaya
Living root bridges are a feature of Meghalaya. The Khasi and Jaintia tribes of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills guide the roots of Ficus trees across streams. The roots thicken and strengthen as the years pass.
- ✓ (a) Meghalaya's living root bridges are crafted by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia tribes. They train the roots of Ficus trees across streams, weaving them over many years. Well-known examples are found near Mawlynnong and Cherrapunji.
- ✗ (b) Himachal Pradesh is a western Himalayan state. It is not known for bridges grown from living tree roots.
- ✗ (c) Jharkhand is on the Chotanagpur plateau. It is not known for living root bridges.
- ✗ (d) Tamil Nadu is not associated with this practice. Living root bridges belong to the very wet hills of Meghalaya.
Remember · Living root bridges are made from Ficus elastica roots trained by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes. They are found in Meghalaya's Khasi and Jaintia Hills, near Cherrapunji and Mawlynnong.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 1 (practise this chapter) · Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 7 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Chapter 1 “The village is also known for its living root bridges, which are created by weaving tree roots over the course of many years.”
- NCERT Class 7 · Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Chapter 7 “Meghalaya's living root bridges which are crafted by the indigeneous Khasi and Jaintia tribes using the roots of the Ficus”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·