Correct answer: (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Explanation
- A
North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
(a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Mangroves occur in pockets, and dry deciduous forest inland, but a full mangrove–evergreen–deciduous combination is not the textbook signature of this stretch.
- B
South-West Bengal
(b) South-West Bengal. Sundarbans mangroves dominate; evergreen and moist deciduous are not the trio that defines this option the way A&N does.
- C
Southern Saurashtra
(c) Southern Saurashtra. Dry deciduous and scrub, with limited mangrove in the Gulf of Kachchh—not evergreen forest as a major type.
- D
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These islands carry mangrove belts, tropical evergreen (dipterocarp) forest and moist/dry deciduous patches together. That combination is the official key.
Summary. Official key is (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island group has mangroves on coasts, evergreen rainforest inland, and deciduous forest in places. North coastal Andhra, south-west Bengal and southern Saurashtra do not show that full trio as clearly. Only A&N matches the stem.
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