Which of the following types of forests covers the largest geographical area in India, characterized by trees that shed their leaves during the dry season to conserve moisture?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Tropical deciduous forests, also known as monsoon forests, cover the largest part of India's forested area, receiving rainfall between 70 and 200 centimeters annually. Species such as teak, sal, and peepal dominate these ecosystems, dropping foliage during dry periods to mitigate transpiration stress. Tropical evergreen forests are restricted to high-rainfall zones like the Western Ghats and northeastern states, whereas mangroves grow in saline coastal deltaic environments.