CDS Geography · Indian Geography — Physical Features
Forests and Protected Areas
India's forest types and their trees, the forest cover figures of the 2021 forest report, the biosphere reserves, parks and sanctuaries CDS asks about, and the forest research institutes.
Why this matters
Fifteen CDS questions from 2016 to 2026: 1 EASY, 8 MODERATE, 6 HARD. Ten of them came in 2023 or later, more than on any other page of this chapter, so this is where the paper is moving.
Concept 1 of 4: Forest types and their trees
Rain and height decide the forest. Heavy rain gives evergreen forest, medium rain gives deciduous forest that sheds its leaves in the dry season, and low rain gives thorny scrub. Climbing a Himalayan slope does the same thing as travelling north: deciduous, then temperate, then alpine. Learn one or two trees for each type.
Definition
The types:
- Tropical evergreen: very wet areas (Western Ghats, the north-east, the Andamans); rosewood, ebony, mahogany.
- Tropical moist deciduous: about 100 to 200 cm of rain; sal, teak, bamboo.
- Tropical thorn: under about 70 cm of rain (Rajasthan, Gujarat, the dry Deccan); khair (acacia), babool, cactus-like euphorbia.
- Montane temperate (about 1,500 to 3,000 m in the Himalaya): oak, maple, birch, laurel, rhododendron, and conifers such as deodar and pine.
- Alpine (above about 3,000 m): kail (blue pine), silver fir, juniper, birch.
- Littoral and swamp (mangrove): deltas and tidal coasts; sundari, Sonneratia, rhizophora. Casuarina is planted along the Tamil Nadu coast.
- Shola: patches of stunted evergreen forest in grassland on the high hills of the Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Palani hills, not the Himalaya.
| Forest type | Trees | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical evergreen | Rosewood, ebony, mahogany | Western Ghats, north-east, Andamans |
| Tropical moist deciduous | Sal, teak, bamboo | Eastern and central India, Himalayan foothills |
| Tropical thorn | Khair, babool, euphorbia | Rajasthan, Gujarat, dry Deccan |
| Montane temperate | Oak, maple, birch, laurel, rhododendron, deodar | Himalaya, about 1,500 to 3,000 mQ CDS 2023 (II): the cashew is a tropical coastal tree, not a temperate Himalayan one. |
| Alpine | Kail, silver fir, juniper | Himalaya above about 3,000 m |
| Littoral and swamp | Sundari, Sonneratia, rhizophora | Sundarbans and the eastern deltasQ CDS 2022 (II): from Bikaner to Konark the order is desert, thorn, moist deciduous, mangrove. |
| Shola | Stunted evergreen trees in grassland | Nilgiris and nearby high hills of the Western GhatsQ CDS 2016 (II) and 2022 (II): sholas are in the Nilgiris, not the Himalaya. |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (I) 2026 — General Knowledge · Q72Moderate
Example 1 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Forests and Protected Areas
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the codes given below the Lists :
Codes :
| List-I (Forest type) | List-II (Specie) |
|---|---|
| A. Tropical Moist Forest | 1. Kail |
| B. Littoral and Swamp Forest | 2. Khair |
| C. Tropical Thorn Forest | 3. Sonneratia |
| D. Alpine Forest | 4. Rosewood |
Sholas are not Himalayan
Shola forests grow on the high hills of the Nilgiris and the Western Ghats. CDS has twice placed them on the upper Himalaya as the wrong statement.
A tropical tree in a temperate list
The cashew is a tropical coastal tree. Oak, maple, birch, laurel and rhododendron are the trees of the temperate Himalaya.
Concept 2 of 4: Forest cover (India State of Forest Report 2021)
Two different questions hide here: which state has the most forest by area, and which has the most forest as a share of its land. A big state like Madhya Pradesh wins the first; a small hilly one like Mizoram wins the second.
Definition
From the India State of Forest Report 2021:
- Forest cover is about 21.7% of India's area.
- Largest forest cover by area: Madhya Pradesh, then Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra.
- Highest percentage among states: Mizoram. Among all states and UTs: Lakshadweep (about 90%).
- Canopy classes: very dense 70% or more; moderately dense 40 to 70%; open 10 to 40%.
| Measure | Answer |
|---|---|
| Forest cover of India | About 21.7% of its area |
| Largest by area | Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
| Highest share, states | Mizoram |
| Highest share, all states and UTs | Lakshadweep, about 90%Q CDS 2022 (I): Lakshadweep, ahead of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. |
| Very dense forest | Canopy density 70% or more |
| Moderately dense forest | Canopy density 40 to 70% |
| Open forest | Canopy density 10 to 40% |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2024 · CDS (II) 2024 — General Knowledge · Q80Moderate
Example 2 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Forests and Protected Areas
As per India State of Forest Report 2021, which one of the following states is not among the top three with reference to maximum area under forest ?
Area is not percentage
Madhya Pradesh has the most forest by area. Mizoram (among states) and Lakshadweep (among all units) have the highest percentage. Read which one the question asks for.
Concept 3 of 4: Biosphere reserves, parks and sanctuaries
These are pure name-to-state facts. Most reserves sit inside one state; a few spread across a border, and those are the ones CDS asks about. Keep a short list and the state for each.
Definition
Biosphere reserves:
- Nilgiri, India's first, spreads over three states: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka.
- Agasthyamalai (Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and Achanakmar-Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) spread over two.
- One state each: Seshachalam (Andhra Pradesh), Similipal (Odisha), Manas (Assam), Panna (Madhya Pradesh), Nokrek (Meghalaya), Dehang-Debang (Arunachal Pradesh).
Parks and sanctuaries:
- Keibul Lamjao (Manipur): the only floating national park, on Loktak lake; home of the sangai deer.
- Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Gir (Gujarat), Nandankanan (Odisha).
- Chakrashila (Assam, golden langur), Nahar (Haryana), Kane (Arunachal Pradesh).
- Tiger reserves north to south: Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh), Panna (Madhya Pradesh), Pench (Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra), Indravati (Chhattisgarh).
| Name | Kind | State |
|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri | Biosphere reserve | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, KarnatakaQ CDS 2024 (I) and 2025 (I): the reserve spread over three states. |
| Agasthyamalai | Biosphere reserve | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak | Biosphere reserve | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
| Seshachalam | Biosphere reserve | Andhra PradeshQ CDS 2026 (II): Seshachalam, Manas, Similipal and Panna paired in the order listed. |
| Similipal | Biosphere reserve | Odisha |
| Manas | Biosphere reserve | Assam |
| Keibul Lamjao | Floating national park | Manipur |
| Chakrashila | Wildlife sanctuary (golden langur) | Assam |
| Dudhwa, Panna, Pench, Indravati | Tiger reserves, north to south | UP, MP, MP and Maharashtra, ChhattisgarhQ |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (I) 2026 — General Knowledge · Q80Easy
Example 3 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Forests and Protected Areas
Which one among the following pairs of National Parks and locations is not correctly matched?
Keibul Lamjao is in Manipur
Keibul Lamjao, the floating park, lies on Loktak lake in Manipur. It is not in Arunachal Pradesh.
Agasthyamalai spans two states, not three
Agasthyamalai covers Kerala and Tamil Nadu only. The reserve spread over three states is Nilgiri.
Concept 4 of 4: Forest research institutes
The forest research institutes are placed where their forests are: the rain forest institute in Assam, the Himalayan one in the hills, the arid one in the Thar. Ask what the institute studies and its city follows.
Definition
Institutes of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education:
- Forest Research Institute: Dehradun.
- Tropical Forest Research Institute: Jabalpur.
- Rain Forest Research Institute: Jorhat.
- Himalayan Forest Research Institute: Shimla.
- Arid Forest Research Institute: Jodhpur.
- Institute of Wood Science and Technology: Bengaluru.
- Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding: Coimbatore.
- Forest Research Centre for Eco-Rehabilitation: Prayagraj.
| Institute | City |
|---|---|
| Forest Research Institute | Dehradun |
| Tropical Forest Research Institute | Jabalpur |
| Rain Forest Research Institute | Jorhat |
| Himalayan Forest Research Institute | Shimla |
| Arid Forest Research Institute | Jodhpur |
| Institute of Wood Science and Technology | Bengaluru |
| Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding | Coimbatore |
| Forest Research Centre for Eco-Rehabilitation | Prayagraj |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2026 · CDS (I) 2026 — General Knowledge · Q75Hard
Example 4 · Indian Geography — Physical Features · Forests and Protected Areas
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the codes given below the Lists :
Codes :
| List-I (Forest Research Institute) | List-II (Location) |
|---|---|
| A. Tropical Forest Research Institute | 1. Prayagraj |
| B. Rain Forest Research Institute | 2. Jorhat |
| C. Himalayan Forest Research Institute | 3. Jabalpur |
| D. Forest Research Centre for Eco-Rehabilitation | 4. Shimla |
Jabalpur and Jorhat are easy to swap
The Tropical Forest Research Institute is in Jabalpur (central India). The Rain Forest Research Institute is in Jorhat (Assam).
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (4)
Forest types and their trees7 rows
| Forest type | Trees | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical evergreen | Rosewood, ebony, mahogany | Western Ghats, north-east, Andamans |
| Tropical moist deciduous | Sal, teak, bamboo | Eastern and central India, Himalayan foothills |
| Tropical thorn | Khair, babool, euphorbia | Rajasthan, Gujarat, dry Deccan |
| Montane temperate | Oak, maple, birch, laurel, rhododendron, deodar | Himalaya, about 1,500 to 3,000 mQ CDS 2023 (II): the cashew is a tropical coastal tree, not a temperate Himalayan one. |
| Alpine | Kail, silver fir, juniper | Himalaya above about 3,000 m |
| Littoral and swamp | Sundari, Sonneratia, rhizophora | Sundarbans and the eastern deltasQ CDS 2022 (II): from Bikaner to Konark the order is desert, thorn, moist deciduous, mangrove. |
| Shola | Stunted evergreen trees in grassland | Nilgiris and nearby high hills of the Western GhatsQ CDS 2016 (II) and 2022 (II): sholas are in the Nilgiris, not the Himalaya. |
Forest cover (India State of Forest Report 2021)7 rows
| Measure | Answer |
|---|---|
| Forest cover of India | About 21.7% of its area |
| Largest by area | Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
| Highest share, states | Mizoram |
| Highest share, all states and UTs | Lakshadweep, about 90%Q CDS 2022 (I): Lakshadweep, ahead of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. |
| Very dense forest | Canopy density 70% or more |
| Moderately dense forest | Canopy density 40 to 70% |
| Open forest | Canopy density 10 to 40% |
Biosphere reserves, parks and sanctuaries9 rows
| Name | Kind | State |
|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri | Biosphere reserve | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, KarnatakaQ CDS 2024 (I) and 2025 (I): the reserve spread over three states. |
| Agasthyamalai | Biosphere reserve | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak | Biosphere reserve | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
| Seshachalam | Biosphere reserve | Andhra PradeshQ CDS 2026 (II): Seshachalam, Manas, Similipal and Panna paired in the order listed. |
| Similipal | Biosphere reserve | Odisha |
| Manas | Biosphere reserve | Assam |
| Keibul Lamjao | Floating national park | Manipur |
| Chakrashila | Wildlife sanctuary (golden langur) | Assam |
| Dudhwa, Panna, Pench, Indravati | Tiger reserves, north to south | UP, MP, MP and Maharashtra, ChhattisgarhQ |
Forest research institutes8 rows
| Institute | City |
|---|---|
| Forest Research Institute | Dehradun |
| Tropical Forest Research Institute | Jabalpur |
| Rain Forest Research Institute | Jorhat |
| Himalayan Forest Research Institute | Shimla |
| Arid Forest Research Institute | Jodhpur |
| Institute of Wood Science and Technology | Bengaluru |
| Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding | Coimbatore |
| Forest Research Centre for Eco-Rehabilitation | Prayagraj |
Watch out for (6)
- Sholas are not Himalayan→ Forest types and their trees
- A tropical tree in a temperate list→ Forest types and their trees
- Area is not percentage→ Forest cover (India State of Forest Report 2021)
- Keibul Lamjao is in Manipur→ Biosphere reserves, parks and sanctuaries
- Agasthyamalai spans two states, not three→ Biosphere reserves, parks and sanctuaries
- Jabalpur and Jorhat are easy to swap→ Forest research institutes
Test yourself on Indian Geography — Physical Features
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.