Which category of the following forests occupy the largest percentage in India?

The correct answer is Tropical deciduous.

Key Points

• Tropical deciduous forests, also known as monsoon forests, are the most widespread forests in India.
• They cover about 40% of the total forest area in the country.
• These forests are found in regions with an annual rainfall of 70–200 cm and are common in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
• The trees in tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves for about 6–8 weeks during the dry summer to conserve water.

Additional Information

• Conifers and Pines
  • These forests are part of the Himalayan vegetation found in higher altitudes.
  • They consist of evergreen trees like pine, cedar, and fir, adapted to cold climates.
• ​Equatorial Evergreen
  • These forests are dense and evergreen, found in areas with very high rainfall (above 200 cm).
  • In India, they are present in regions like the Western Ghats, northeastern states, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • However, they occupy a much smaller percentage of the total forest area in India.
• Desert Vegetation
  • ​These are found in arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Haryana and Punjab.
  • The vegetation here consists of thorny bushes, cacti, and xerophytic plants adapted to extremely dry conditions.
  • They cover a minimal area in India.