Which one of the following is a global biodiversity hotspot in India ?

India is home to four global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland [c5, t1, t3]. The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Hills, is a 1,600 km long mountain range along India's west coast [t6]. It is recognized as one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' due to its exceptional levels of biological diversity and endemism [t5]. While the entire Himalayan range is considered a hotspot, it is often categorized as a single entity (the Himalaya Hotspot) or specifically highlighted for its Eastern portion [c1, t2]. The Western Himalayas and Northern Himalayas are sub-regions within the broader Himalayan hotspot but are not listed as independent global hotspots [t1, t4]. The Eastern Ghats, while ecologically significant, do not meet the specific criteria (high endemism and significant habitat loss) to be designated as a global biodiversity hotspot [c3].

Sources

1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > 9.3.2. Floral endemism * order > p. 158
3. [3] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > 15.11.2. Indian Biodiversity Hot Spots. > p. 222
4. [4] https://www.bbau.ac.in/Docs/FoundationCourse/TM/Biodiversity%20Hotspots%20in%20India.pdf
5. [5] https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342/