2023 · GS Paper 1 · Q15 · 15 marks
Identify and discuss the factors responsible for diversity of natural vegetation in India. Assess the significance of wildlife sanctuaries in rain forest regions of India.
In short
India's natural vegetation varies with rainfall, relief and altitude, rain-shadow effects and soil, from evergreen rain forests to thorn scrub and alpine meadows. Rain forest sanctuaries such as Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary protect endemic species, river headwaters and carbon, but need corridors and community support.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 266 words
Rainfall gradient
Over 200 cm of rain gives evergreen forests in the Western Ghats and North-East, 100-200 cm moist deciduous sal and teak, and below 50 cm the thorn scrub of Rajasthan.
Relief and altitude
The Himalaya stack tropical, oak, pine and deodar, and alpine zones with height, and the windward Ghats are evergreen while the rain-shadow Deccan is dry.
Soil and human use
Saline tidal soils carry Sundarbans mangroves and sandy soils carry khejri, while jhum and plantations reshape the cover.
Refuges for endemics
Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam shelters the hoolock gibbon, and Silent Valley guards the lion-tailed macaque.
Water and genetic security
Western Ghats reserves guard the headwaters of the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, and the Kani tribe's arogyapacha yielded the Jeevani tonic with benefit-sharing.
Limits
Fragmentation, as a railway splits Hollongapar, invasive species and conflict limit small reserves.
Corridors and zoning
Link sanctuaries through corridors and apply the Gadgil and Kasturirangan eco-sensitive zoning.
Community stewardship
Make forest dwellers partners through community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
This model answer is indicative and the model can make mistakes; please verify key facts independently.
Practise this question
1Get the answer sheet
Sized for this question.
2Write your answer
Timed, by hand.
3Get it marked
Your score and what to fix.
This chapter in the exam
Climate, Vegetation and Soils3 questions
Asked in 3 of 14 sittings since 2013
Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.