Consider the following States: 1. Chhattisgarh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?

To determine the correct ascending order of states based on their percentage of forest cover to total area, we refer to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) data, which is periodically released by the Forest Survey of India. Based on typical trends from recent ISFR reports (e.g., ISFR 2019, which would be relevant for such a question):

Maharashtra: Generally has a forest cover percentage around 16-17%. Madhya Pradesh: Has a significantly higher forest cover, typically in the range of 25-26%. Odisha: Often boasts a forest cover percentage around 33-34%. Chhattisgarh: Is known for having one of the highest forest cover percentages among major states, often exceeding 41-42%. Therefore, the correct ascending order (from lowest to highest percentage of forest cover) is Maharashtra < Madhya Pradesh < Odisha < Chhattisgarh, which corresponds to option C (3-2-4-1).