How many protected biospheres are there in India?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) 18

Explanation:

• There are currently 18 notified Biosphere Reserves in India.

• These are large areas of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.

• The program for Biosphere Reserves was initiated by UNESCO in 1971 under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

• In India, the first Biosphere Reserve to be established was the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986, which spans across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

• According to NCERT Class 11 Geography, these reserves serve three main functions: conservation, development (sustainable), and logistic support (research and education).

Information Booster:

• Out of the 18 Biosphere Reserves, 12 have been recognized internationally by UNESCO under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The most recent addition to this international list was the Panna Biosphere Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

• The largest Biosphere Reserve in India is the Gulf of Kachchh (Gujarat), while the smallest is Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam).

Additional Knowledge:

10 (Option A) and 12 (Option B)

• While 10 was the count for many years, 12 is currently the number of Indian Biosphere Reserves included in the UNESCO World Network. Confusion often arises between the total number (18) and the UNESCO-recognized number (12).

25 (Option D)

• There are no official counts of 25 for Biosphere Reserves; however, India has significantly higher numbers for other protected areas, such as over 100 National Parks and over 500 Wildlife Sanctuaries.

List of the 18 Biosphere Reserves: