To maintain ecological balance, the area under forest should be _____.

The correct answer is C) 33%. The National Forest Policy, 1988 sets the goal that 33% of the geographical area should be under forest or tree cover, to maintain ecological balance. The policy differentiates by terrain: about 60% in hills and mountains, and about 20% in plains.

• A) 10% is far below the policy target and too low to sustain ecological balance in most regions.
• B) 23% is close to India's actual forest and tree cover as reported in the India State of Forest Report. It describes the present position, not the policy target. Confusing the two is the classic error.
• D) 53% has no basis in national forest policy and overstates the target.

The core concept is the gap between a normative policy target and the observed forest cover. For Mains, link this to climate change, carbon sinks, Green India Mission and CAMPA funds for compensatory afforestation. Note that the State of Forest Report now measures forest and tree cover together, so the current figure has moved since 2014.

Trap: aspirants pick the number that looks like the current status (23%) instead of the policy target.