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?

The correct answer is Option 3-2-4-1 (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh).

Step-by-Step Breakdown:

To arrange the given states in ascending order based on the percentage of forest cover relative to their total geographical area (according to recent India State of Forest Reports / ISFR data):

1. Maharashtra (3): Has a forest cover of approximately 16.5% to 16.9% of its total area, which is the lowest percentage among the four states listed.

2. Madhya Pradesh (2): Has a forest cover of approximately 25.1% of its total area.

3. Odisha (4): Has a forest cover of approximately 33.5% of its total area.

4. Chhattisgarh (1): Has a forest cover of approximately 41.1% of its total area, making it the highest among the given choices.

Arranging these states in ascending order (from lowest percentage to highest percentage):

Maharashtra (3) < Madhya Pradesh (2) < Odisha (4) < Chhattisgarh (1)

Therefore, the correct sequence is 3-2-4-1.