UPSC CSE Prelims 2010

Correct Option

Statement 2 is correct. India possesses four recognized biodiversity hotspots, as designated by Conservation International:

• Himalaya: This hotspot encompasses the entire Indian Himalayan region, including both Eastern and significant parts of the Western Himalayas.
• Indo-Burma: This region includes a large part of Northeast India and the Andaman Islands.
• Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: This hotspot covers the Western Ghats of India.
• Sundaland: This region includes the Nicobar Islands.

The statement's listing of "Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands" broadly corresponds to these officially designated hotspots, making it acceptable in the context of the question.

Incorrect Options

Statement 1 is incorrect. Biodiversity hotspots are not exclusively confined to tropical regions. While many are found in tropical zones due to high species diversity, their definition is based on two primary criteria: a high concentration of endemic species (at least 1500 species of vascular plants as endemics) and significant habitat loss (70% or more of its primary vegetation). Consequently, hotspots also exist in temperate regions, such as the Mediterranean Basin, California Floristic Province, and the Caucasus. Therefore, options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect as they either incorrectly identify Statement 1 as correct or Statement 2 as incorrect.