Which one of the following areas does not cover India's biodiversity hotspots?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Indo-Gangetic plains
Option (1) Indo-Burma plains — Covers a hotspot. NCERT names this hotspot Indo-Burma; the option’s “Indo-Burma plains” refers to the same region.
Option (2) Indo-Gangetic plains — Does not cover a hotspot. NCERT names only three hotspots that cover India: Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and Himalaya. The Indo-Gangetic plains are not one of them.
Option (3) Western Ghats — Covers a hotspot. It is listed together with Sri Lanka.
Option (4) Himalayas — Covers a hotspot. NCERT writes it as Himalaya.
NCERT Extract:
How Do We Conserve Biodiversity? – “… Initially 25 biodiversity hotspots were identified but subsequently nine more have been added to the list, bringing the total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world to 34. These hotspots are also regions of accelerated habitat loss. Three of these hotspots – Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya – cover our country’s exceptionally high biodiversity regions.”