Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

The correct answer is C) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam. Its core area, which NTCA treats as Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH), is the largest of the four, at roughly 3,500 sq km. This reserve spans Andhra Pradesh and Telangana along the Krishna river, and its core covers the Nallamala hills.

• Corbett (A): Its core is much smaller, about 1,300 sq km, even after the expansions.
• Ranthambore (B): Its core is about 1,100 sq km, so it falls well short of NSTR.
• Sunderbans (D): Its core is about 1,700 sq km. It is a large reserve, but its core is the mangrove area, and it is still smaller than NSTR's core.

The core concept is the legal distinction under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006. CTH is the inviolate core that must be kept free of human habitation and is notified on scientific criteria; the buffer is the surrounding zone. For Mains, this links to debates on displacement and tribal rights, because CTH notification requires relocation of villages under the Forest Rights Act safeguards.

Trap: Aspirants confuse total reserve area with core/CTH area. Corbett and Sunderbans look bigger on the map, but the question asks for the core.