The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
In India, forests are administratively classified under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, into three categories: Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, and Unclassed Forests. This classification determines the degree of protection and the rights of local communities.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Reserved Forests are considered the most valuable for the conservation of forest and wildlife resources. Administratively, more than half of the total forest land in India has been declared as Reserved Forests.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala, along with Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, have large percentages of reserved forests relative to their total forest area. It is incorrect to state that they have negligible areas under this category.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Maharashtra is specifically cited as one of the states having a large percentage (bulk) of its forest area classified as Reserved Forests.
Key Takeaway:
Reserved Forests constitute >50% of India's forest area (highest protection), whereas Protected Forests constitute about 1/3rd. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests (Reserved + Protected) in India.