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?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 3–2–4–1
Lowest to highest forest cover as a share of the State's area is Maharashtra (about 16.5%), Madhya Pradesh (about 25.1%), Odisha (about 33.2%) and Chhattisgarh (about 41.1%). This gives the order 3–2–4–1.
- ✓ 3. Maharashtra has the smallest share: 50,777.56 sq km of forest cover, 16.50% of its area (ISFR 2019).
- ✓ 2. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in absolute area (77,482.49 sq km) but only 25.14% of its area, because the State is so large.
- ✓ 4. Odisha has 51,618.51 sq km of forest cover, which is 33.15% of its area.
- ✓ 1. Chhattisgarh has the highest share of the four: 55,610.57 sq km, or 41.14% of its area.
Remember · Forest cover share of state area: Maharashtra 16.5% < Madhya Pradesh 25.1% < Odisha 33.2% < Chhattisgarh 41.1%. Madhya Pradesh is first in area but not in percentage.
Sources
- Forest Survey of India, ISFR 2019 Vol II: Maharashtra ↗ “the Forest Cover in the State is 50,777.56 sq km which is 16.50 % of the State's geographical area.”
- Forest Survey of India, ISFR 2019 Vol II: Madhya Pradesh ↗ “the Forest Cover in the State is 77,482.49 sq km which is 25.14 % of the State's geographical area.”
- Forest Survey of India, ISFR 2019 Vol II: Odisha ↗ “the Forest Cover in the State is 51,618.51 sq km which is 33.15 % of the State's geographical area.”
- Forest Survey of India, ISFR 2019 Vol II: Chhattisgarh ↗ “Class Area % of GA VDF 7,067.72 5.23 MDF 32,197.56 23.82 OF 16,345.29 12.09 Total 55,610.57 41.14”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·