What minimum percentage of forest cover in the plains is generally recommended to maintain ecological balance and environmental stability in India?

Introduction / Context:
Forest cover plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, regulating climate, conserving soil, and protecting biodiversity. National forest policies in India have laid down recommended minimum percentages of forest area required in different regions to sustain environmental stability. This question asks about the percentage recommended for the plains, which is a favourite fact based point in environment, geography, and general knowledge examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question specifically refers to plains, not hilly or mountainous regions.
• It is asking about minimum forest cover required to maintain ecological balance.
• Options include 25 percent, 33 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, and 60 percent.
• We assume the guidance from India's National Forest Policy that is widely cited in textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
India's forest policy documents and environmental studies materials often highlight that at least one third of the total land area should be under forest or tree cover to maintain ecological stability. Specifically, the recommended forest cover is around 33 percent for the country as a whole and for plains, while a higher percentage is suggested for hilly and mountainous regions where forests help prevent erosion and landslides. For hills, the recommendation is usually about two thirds of the area under forest. Thus, when the question asks for the minimum forest cover in the plains, 33 percent is the figure that matches the policy guideline.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the key numbers from environmental policy: about one third forest cover for plains and about two thirds for hills. Step 2: Note that the plains include low lying agricultural and settlement areas where tree cover helps maintain soil fertility and micro climate. Step 3: Recognise that 25 percent is less than one third and 40 percent, 50 percent, and 60 percent exceed the commonly cited minimum for plains. Step 4: Match the figure of one third with the percentage listed as 33 percent among the options. Step 5: Conclude that 33 percent forest cover is the recommended minimum for the plains to preserve ecological balance.

Verification / Alternative check:
Students can verify this answer by consulting environment and geography chapters that discuss India's National Forest Policy. These often state that at least 33 percent of the geographical area should be brought under forest or tree cover in the long run, with 60 percent or more in hilly regions. Additionally, many exam oriented guides and previous year questions repeat this pair of figures, reinforcing that the correct minimum percentage for plains is approximately one third, represented as 33 percent in multiple choice options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A figure of 25 percent is below the recommended one third mark and would not be sufficient to provide the desired ecological benefits in the plains.
Forty percent and 50 percent are higher than the commonly quoted minimum and are generally associated with stronger conservation targets rather than baseline recommendations.
Sixty percent is close to the recommendation for hilly and mountainous regions, not for the plains, so it does not answer the specific wording of the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the figures for plains and hills. Because both 33 percent and about 60 percent are frequently mentioned together, it is easy to pick the wrong one if the phrase plains or hilly areas is overlooked. Another pitfall is assuming that more must always be correct and therefore choosing 50 percent or 60 percent. While more forest cover is desirable, the question asks for the generally recommended minimum, which is a specific policy number rather than a random large value.

Final Answer:
The minimum forest cover recommended for plains to maintain ecological balance is 33%.