According to the National Forest Policy of India, what proportion of the total national geographical area should ideally be under forests?

Introduction / Context:
The National Forest Policy provides broad guidelines for conserving and expanding forest cover in India. A widely quoted target from this policy concerns the percentage of the country's area that should be under forests or tree cover. Many exam questions ask candidates to recall this percentage because it reflects the long term environmental vision for the country.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Four percentage values are given as options: 30.3 percent, 33.3 percent, 38.3 percent and 42.3 percent. • The question asks which value matches the National Forest Policy target for forest cover in the country as a whole. • We are not being asked about the current forest cover, only the policy goal.

Concept / Approach:
The National Forest Policy of 1988 states that one third of the total land area of the country should ideally be under forest or tree cover. One third expressed as a percentage is approximately 33.3 percent. For hilly and mountainous regions, the target is even higher, but for the country as a whole the key number to remember is about one third.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the policy goal is one third of the land area under forests. Step 2: Convert one third into a percentage, which is approximately 33.3 percent. Step 3: Match this with the options and pick 33.3 percent as the closest representation of one third.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official summaries of the National Forest Policy clearly mention that 33 percent of the country's area should be under forest or tree cover. Other percentages such as 30.3 or 38.3 percent do not appear as the main national level target in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (30.3 percent) is lower than the one third benchmark and does not reflect the stated policy goal. Option C (38.3 percent) and option D (42.3 percent) are substantially above one third and therefore do not correspond to the official target figure.

Common Pitfalls:
• Some learners confuse the target for the whole country with that for hilly regions, where a higher proportion is suggested. • Others misremember the exact number and choose nearby percentages; remembering one third helps anchor the correct option easily.

Final Answer:
The National Forest Policy envisages about 33.3% of the country's geographical area under forest or tree cover.