Consider the following statements regarding the MoEFCC’s report on forest land encroachment submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Which of them are correct? As of March 2024, over 13,056 sq km of forest area across 25 states and UTs in India has been reported under encroachment. Madhya Pradesh has the second-highest forest encroachment, after Assam. The encroached forest area increased significantly from 7,506.48 sq km in April 2023 to over 13,000 sq km in March 2024.

The correct answer is 1 and 3 only. In News The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in March 2024, highlighting that over 13,056 sq km of forest area is encroached across 25 States and UTs. Key Points As of March 2024 , 13,056 sq km (13,05,668.1 hectares) of forest area was encroached across 25 States and Union Territories . This marks a sharp increase from the 7,506.48 sq km of encroached area reported in April 2023 . Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest forest encroachment at 5,460.9 sq km , followed by Assam with 3,620.9 sq km . Hence, statement 2 is incorrect. Additional Information Top States with Forest Encroachment (as of March 2024) Madhya Pradesh: 5,460.9 sq km Assam: 3,620.9 sq km MoEFCC Ministry responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry policies and programs in India. National Green Tribunal (NGT) Specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.