The National Chambal Sanctuary does NOT fall in which of the following States?

The correct answer is C, Haryana. The National Chambal Sanctuary lies along the Chambal river in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, which are the three states the river passes through before it joins the Yamuna. The Chambal does not flow through Haryana, so the sanctuary cannot fall there.

The sanctuary was notified in 1979 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and it is best known as a stronghold of the gharial, along with the Gangetic dolphin, the red-crowned roofed turtle and the Indian skimmer.

• Uttar Pradesh (A): Included. The sanctuary covers stretches of the river in the Etawah and Agra region.
• Madhya Pradesh (B): Included. The river rises in the Vindhyan region of Madhya Pradesh and the sanctuary covers its stretches in the state.
• Rajasthan (D): Included. The Kota and Dholpur-side stretches of the river fall within the sanctuary.

The core concept is protected area design around a river ecosystem, which links to the Environment and Ecology syllabus and to Mains questions on riverine biodiversity and multi-state conservation.

Trap: Candidates tend to pick Haryana simply because it is a neighbouring state. Check the river's actual course before accepting a state as included.