General Science question from JKAS Prelims, 2021 by JKPSC
What is India's share of the global species diversity?
Last updated May 13, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option D —
8%
Understanding India’s Biodiversity Status
India is officially recognized as one of the 17 Mega-Diverse Countries in the world. Its contribution to global diversity is disproportionately high when compared to its physical size:
Land Area: India occupies only about 2.4% of the world's total land area.
Species Diversity: Despite its small land footprint, India accounts for approximately 8.1% (often rounded to 8% in standard academic assessments) of the global recorded species diversity.
Why is India's Biodiversity so High?
This "impressive share" is the result of several unique factors:
Diverse Ecosystems: From the Himalayan tundra and the Thar desert to tropical rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs, India hosts a massive variety of habitats.
Biodiversity Hotspots: India contains four of the world's 36 global biodiversity hotspots:
The Himalayas
The Western Ghats
The Indo-Burma region
Sundaland (including the Nicobar Islands)
Species Richness: To date, more than 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals have been recorded in India.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
