Question

The largest area under wasteland in India is in:
1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Rajasthan
4. Gujrat

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Rajasthan

The correct answer is Rajasthan.

• Rajasthan has the largest wasteland area in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in terms of the maximum area of wastelands.
• Wastelands are formed for both natural and man-made reasons such as snow-covered areas, coastal saline area forest blank, barren hill-ridges, etc.
• Deforestation, overgrazing, over-cultivation, and unskilled irrigation also majorly contribute to the formation of wastelands.
• The wastelands have the problems of nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency that can be improved by the plantation of certain seedlings and heavy afforestation programs.
• Of the national land area of 3,166 lakh hectares, 15% is categorized as wasteland.

• Rajasthan 25% of its geographical area is a wasteland, accounting for 18% of the wasteland nationally.