Biosphere Reserves — Set 5

Correct Answer: C. Meghalaya

• **Nokrek Biosphere Reserve** = located in the West Garo Hills of Meghalaya, a global hotspot for citrus diversity and habitat of the Red Panda. • **Citrus diversity centre** — Nokrek is internationally recognised as a primary centre of origin for cultivated citrus fruits, a unique distinction among Indian biosphere reserves. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Manipur: has no UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve; Nagaland: has no biosphere reserve; Sikkim: has Khangchendzonga BR.

Correct Answer: B. Similipal

• **Similipal Biosphere Reserve** = located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, and beautiful waterfalls. • **Semul (silk cotton) trees** — the reserve's namesake feature, with abundant red silk cotton trees (Bombax ceiba) that give it the name 'Similipal'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Panna: located in Madhya Pradesh; Nokrek: located in Meghalaya; Achanakmar: spans Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, not Odisha.

Correct Answer: C. Kerala and Tamil Nadu

• **Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve** = shared between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, located at the southern tip of the Western Ghats. • **2016** — the year Agasthyamala was included in UNESCO's MAB list, acknowledging its exceptionally rich biodiversity and endemic species. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka: these states are in Eastern Ghats / Deccan region; Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh: incorrect pairing; Karnataka and Kerala: Karnataka shares Nilgiri BR but not Agasthyamala.

Correct Answer: C. Chhattisgarh

• **Chhattisgarh** = contains the majority of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, though it also extends into Madhya Pradesh. • **Narmada and Son rivers** — both originate within this reserve at Amarkantak, making it a sacred and ecologically significant river-source landscape. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Jharkhand: has no biosphere reserve; Odisha: has Similipal BR; Madhya Pradesh: shares this BR but holds the minority portion.

Correct Answer: B. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• **Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve** = located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands UT, at the southernmost tip of the archipelago. • **Shompen tribe** — the indigenous community inhabiting Great Nicobar, one of India's most isolated and protected tribal groups. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Lakshadweep: coral atolls in Arabian Sea, no biosphere reserve; Puducherry: small coastal UT in mainland India; Daman and Diu: coastal UT on Gujarat coast, no biosphere reserve.

Correct Answer: A. Core Zone

• **Core Zone** = the innermost strictly protected zone of a biosphere reserve, free from human interference to protect ecosystems and species. • **Non-destructive research only** — the sole exception in the Core Zone is very limited monitoring and non-destructive scientific research under strict conditions. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Buffer Zone: allows research, education, and managed tourism; Transition Zone: allows human settlements and sustainable economic activities; Peripheral Zone: not one of the three official biosphere reserve zones.

Correct Answer: D. Himachal Pradesh

• **Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve** = located in Himachal Pradesh, covering Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in the cold arid trans-Himalayan region. • **Snow Leopard and Tibetan Gazelle** — the reserve's charismatic flagship species, thriving in its cold high-altitude desert environment. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Arunachal Pradesh: has Dihang-Dibang BR; Uttarakhand: has Nanda Devi BR; Sikkim: has Khangchendzonga BR.

Correct Answer: D. Gulf of Mannar

• **Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve** = India's only marine biosphere reserve, comprising 21 islands with coral reefs, estuaries, beaches, and nearshore forests. • **First in South and Southeast Asia** — Gulf of Mannar holds the distinction of being the first marine biosphere reserve established in the entire South and Southeast Asian region. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Pachmarhi: terrestrial BR in Satpura Range, Madhya Pradesh; Nilgiri: terrestrial BR in Western Ghats; Nanda Devi: Himalayan alpine BR in Uttarakhand.

Correct Answer: D. Andhra Pradesh

• **Seshachalam Hills Biosphere Reserve** = located in Andhra Pradesh, designated in 2010, known for its large population of Red Sanders trees. • **2010** — the year of designation, making it one of India's more recently established biosphere reserves in the Eastern Ghats region. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Telangana: was part of AP when designated, Seshachalam remains in the post-bifurcation AP; Tamil Nadu: has Nilgiri and Agasthyamala BRs; Karnataka: has part of Nilgiri BR.

Correct Answer: A. Madhya Pradesh

• **Panna Biosphere Reserve** = located in Madhya Pradesh, India's most recent entry into UNESCO's MAB list in 2020, famous for diamond mines and tiger conservation. • **2020** — the year of UNESCO MAB inclusion for Panna, making Madhya Pradesh home to a record 3 UNESCO biosphere reserves. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Rajasthan: has no UNESCO biosphere reserves; Gujarat: has Kachchh BR but it is not on the UNESCO MAB list; Uttar Pradesh: has no designated biosphere reserves.