Correct Option
- Latitude: The 27°N latitude passes through Arunachal Pradesh and also through the northern parts of Rajasthan (e.g., Jhunjhunu/Bikaner region).
- Forest Cover: Arunachal Pradesh has over 80% of its geographical area under forest cover, making it one of the states with a very high percentage of forest cover in India.
- Protected Area Network: More than 12% of the state's forest cover is designated as Protected Areas, including National Parks (e.g., Namdapha National Park, Mouling National Park) and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Incorrect Options
- (b) Assam: Assam's forest cover is significant but does not exceed 80% of its geographical area. Its latitudinal extent also differs from northern Rajasthan.
- (c) Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh is a hilly state, but its forest cover is approximately 27% of its geographical area, which is significantly lower than 80%.
- (d) Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand possesses rich biodiversity, but its forest cover ranges between 45-50% of its geographical area, which is below the 80% criterion.