Pragnya IAS · Map 47 · Climate & environment
India: biosphere reserves map study
Map the 18 biosphere reserves as India’s landscape-scale conservation network.
STUDY NOTE 1
The network
Nilgiri (the first, 1986), Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, Simlipal, Pachmarhi, Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Agasthyamala and others span every biogeographic zone.
STUDY NOTE 2
Three zones, one idea
Each reserve has a core (strict protection), buffer (research and limited use) and transition zone (sustainable livelihoods) — the UNESCO Man and Biosphere design.
STUDY NOTE 3
Global recognition
Several — Nilgiri, Sundarbans, Gulf of Mannar, Nanda Devi, Pachmarhi — are in the UNESCO World Network, a frequent Prelims fact.
Map reading task
Plot ten biosphere reserves and match five to their states; mark which are in the UNESCO network.
Map key · Reference locations
What does this india: biosphere reserves lesson explain?
Nilgiri (the first, 1986), Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, Simlipal, Pachmarhi, Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Agasthyamala and others span every biogeographic zone.
UPSC map practice & Geography Optional connection
For UPSC Prelims, pair the location with its state, neighbouring relief and relevant geographic process. For GS I and Geography Optional Indian geography revision, use a simple labelled sketch to explain the relationship rather than replacing the answer with place names. These are Pragnya-authored exercises, not official UPSC previous-year questions.
References & map credits
Pragnya IAS explanations and practice are independently authored. The uploaded geography compilation informed topic selection only; its pages, illustrations, advertisements and personal watermarks are not republished. Licensed base data retain their original attribution. These lessons are educational references, not navigation, legal boundary or live hazard maps.