Which one of the following types of forest covers the maximum area in India?

Tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread forest type in India, often referred to as monsoon forests [1][t2]. These forests are categorized into 'Moist' and 'Dry' deciduous based on rainfall availability [1][c5]. According to the Champion and Seth classification and data from the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), Tropical Dry Deciduous forests cover the largest percentage of India's total forest area [c4]. While Tropical Moist Deciduous forests are significant in regions receiving 100-200 cm of rainfall, the Dry Deciduous variety occupies vast areas across the country where rainfall ranges between 70-100 cm, including states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh [c1][c2]. Although some sources aggregate them as 'Tropical Deciduous', the specific sub-type with the maximum individual coverage is the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest.

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Tropical Deciduous Forests > p. 44