RAS question
According to FAO's GFRA 2025, India ranks which position globally in total forest area?
Correct answer: (A) 9th.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, India ranks 9th globally in total forest area.
Explanation
The Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ranks India 9th globally in total forest area. The Press Information Bureau release says India rose from 10th in the previous assessment to 9th in GFRA 2025. Forest-cover percentage, annual increase, and carbon-sink ranking are separate indicators and should not be confused with the total forest-area rank. The release also says India retained 3rd place in annual net gain in forest area. Together, these figures show that India's forest statistics improved across more than one indicator, while its total forest-area rank in GFRA 2025 is specifically 9th.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) 7th is incorrect because, according to the Press Information Bureau release, the 2025 assessment places India 9th globally in total forest area.
- (C) 5th is incorrect for this question because it is assigned to the separate carbon-sink indicator, while India ranks 9th in total forest area.
- (D) 12th is incorrect because the release says India rose from 10th in the previous assessment to 9th in the 2025 assessment, not 12th.
Concept
For RAS environment-and-ecology preparation, read international rankings against the precise indicator. The same report can give different ranks for total forest area, annual net gain, and related forest indicators.