UPSC (2026)Prelims Practice Questions on Environment & Forests (GFRA 2025)

 

 UPSC (2026)Prelims Practice Questions on Environment & Forests (GFRA 2025)

1. According to the FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025, consider the following statements:

1. India has been ranked 3rd globally in terms of total forest area.

2. India has maintained its position as one of the top three countries in annual net gain in forest area.

3. Europe accounts for the largest share of the world's total forest area.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer: (b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect: India improved its rank to 9th in total forest area, not 3rd.

• Statement 2 is correct: India maintained its 3rd position in annual net gain of forest area.

• Statement 3 is correct: Europe has the largest forest area, accounting for 25% of the world’s total.

2. The term "Wood Removals", often seen in the context of forestry, refers to:

(a) The natural decomposition of wood in forests.

(b) The amount of wood felled and removed for roundwood or fuelwood production.

(c) The legal process of diverting forest land for non-forest purposes.

(d) The export of processed wood and timber products.

Answer: (b)

• Explanation: As defined in the report, "Wood removals" are the amount of wood felled and removed from the forest, which can be for roundwood (timber) or fuelwood production. India ranks 2nd globally in this.

3. With reference to agroforestry, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The global agroforestry area is approximately 55.4 million hectares.

2. India and Indonesia together contribute around 70% of the global agroforestry area.

3. Agroforestry is not practiced in any European country.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

• Statement 1 is correct: The global agroforestry area is about 55.4 million hectares.

• Statement 2 is correct: India and Indonesia together contribute nearly 70% of this global area.

• Statement 3 is incorrect: The statement is overly absolute and not supported by the data provided. The report highlights Asia's dominance, but does not claim it's absent elsewhere.

4. Consider the following pairs:

Initiative	Primary Objective
1. National Mission for a Green India (GIM)	Regeneration of degraded forest lands through a three-tier institutional setup.
2. Mission LiFE	To promote individual and collective action for sustainable living.
3. National Afforestation Programme	To expand forest and tree cover by 5 million hectares and improve quality on another 5 million hectares.

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) All three pairs

(d) None of the pairs

Answer: (a)

• Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The description given is for the National Afforestation Programme. GIM aims to expand and improve forest cover while enhancing ecosystem services and livelihoods.

• Pair 2 is correctly matched: Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) indeed aims to promote sustainable living, as seen with the MeriLiFE portal.

• Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The target of expanding cover by 5 Mha and improving 5 Mha is the objective of the Green India Mission (GIM), not the National Afforestation Programme.

5. According to the GFRA 2025, which of the following continents/regions had the strongest forest carbon sink during the 2021-2025 period?

(a) South America

(b) Africa

(c) Asia

(d) Europe

Answer: (d)

• Explanation: The report states that forest carbon sinks were strongest in Europe and Asia, removing 1.4 Gt CO2 and 0.9 Gt CO2 per year, respectively. Therefore, Europe had the strongest sink.

6. With reference to bamboo resources in India, consider the following statements:

1. The global area of bamboo forest has decreased between 1990 and 2025.

2. India accounts for more than half of Asia's total bamboo resources.

3. Increases in bamboo forest area in China and India are significant drivers of global growth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The global area of bamboo forest increased by 8.05 million ha between 1990 and 2025.

• Statement 2 is correct: Asia has 21.2 Mha of bamboo, and India has 11.8 Mha, which is more than half of Asia's total.

• Statement 3 is correct: The report specifically mentions that the global increase was largely due to increases in China and India.

7. The 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' initiative is most closely associated with which of the following government programs?

(a) National Mission for a Green India (GIM)

(b) National Afforestation Programme (NAP)

(c) Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

(d) National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

Answer: (c)

• Explanation: The 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' initiative is mentioned as an emotional call to encourage tree plantation under the broader umbrella of Mission LiFE.

8. As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, what is the approximate percentage of India's geographical area covered by forests?

(a) 18.24%

(b) 21.76%

(c) 24.62%

(d) 33.50%

Answer: (b)

• Explanation: The ISFR 2023 states that India’s total forest cover is 7,15,343 sq km, which is 21.76% of the country’s geographical area.

9. Consider the following countries:

1. Russian Federation

2. Brazil

3. Canada

4. United States of America

5. China

How many of the above-mentioned countries account for more than half of the world's total forest area, as per GFRA 2025?

(a) Only three

(b) Only four

(c) All five

(d) Only two

Answer: (c) All five

• Explanation: The report clearly states that more than half (54 percent) of the world’s forests are in only five countries – the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America, and China.

10. What is the primary purpose of the FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA)?

(a) To regulate international trade in forest products.

(b) To provide a periodic, comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's forests based on official national data.

(c) To fund afforestation projects in developing countries.

(d) To designate World Heritage Forest Sites.

Answer: (b)

• Explanation: The GFRA is defined as FAO’s periodic assessment of the state of the world’s forests, providing comprehensive data on forest area, change, management, and use. It is the only worldwide assessment based on official national data.