Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Great Himalayan National Park
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Biosphere reserves are large areas designated to conserve biodiversity, promote research and encourage sustainable development. They are recognised under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme and also notified by the government of India. This question asks you to identify which among the given options is not a declared biosphere reserve, even though it may still be an important protected area like a national park or world heritage site.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
India has notified multiple biosphere reserves, such as Nilgiri, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Agasthyamalai and several others. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve spans parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is in Meghalaya and Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve is in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Nanda Devi is also a biosphere reserve in Uttarakhand. Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh is an important national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is not usually listed as a separate biosphere reserve under the commonly tested list. Therefore, it is the correct answer to the question asking which is not a biosphere reserve.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the list of Indian biosphere reserves you studied, focusing on names that exactly match the options.
Step 2: Identify Agasthyamalai as a notified biosphere reserve in the southern Western Ghats region of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Step 3: Remember Nokrek in Meghalaya as one of the early biosphere reserves in the northeast.
Step 4: Recognise Great Nicobar as a biosphere reserve in the southern part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
Step 5: Recall that Nanda Devi is also a biosphere reserve in Uttarakhand, surrounding Nanda Devi National Park.
Step 6: Note that Great Himalayan National Park is well known as a national park and natural world heritage site, but is typically not counted separately as an Indian biosphere reserve in exam oriented lists.
Step 7: Conclude that Great Himalayan National Park is the option that is not a biosphere reserve.
Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify, cross check the names against a standard list of Indian biosphere reserves. You will see entries for Agasthyamalai, Nokrek, Great Nicobar and Nanda Devi. Great Himalayan National Park does not normally appear in that biosphere reserve list, even though it is protected and internationally recognised. This difference between biosphere reserve status and national park or world heritage status is exactly what this question is designed to test, confirming that Great Himalayan National Park is the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is an officially notified biosphere reserve of India in the southern Western Ghats.
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in Meghalaya is part of the recognised network of Indian biosphere reserves.
Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve covers the southernmost large island of the Andaman and Nicobar group.
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve includes the high altitude region around Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers.
Common Pitfalls:
Many students assume that any high profile national park or world heritage site automatically has biosphere reserve status, which is not always true. Great Himalayan National Park is one such area that is very important but has a different legal designation. Another common mistake is to forget lesser known biosphere names like Nokrek and Great Nicobar and wrongly mark them as not reserves. To avoid confusion, build a small table in your notes separating national parks, biosphere reserves and world heritage sites, and revise it regularly.
Final Answer:
The site that is not a notified biosphere reserve of India is Great Himalayan National Park.
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