Which one of the following regions of India is now regarded as an ‘ecological hot spot’?
- AWestern Himalayas
- BEastern Himalayas
- CWestern ghatsCorrect
- DEastern ghats
Explanation
The correct answer is C because the Western Ghats is one of the four globally recognized biodiversity hotspots in India. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must have a high level of species endemism and have lost a significant portion of its original habitat. While the Eastern Himalayas is also a designated hotspot, the Western Ghats is frequently highlighted in the context of Indian ecology due to its immense biological diversity and the urgent need for conservation. The Eastern Ghats and Western Himalayas do not meet the specific international criteria required to be classified as ecological hotspots.
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