Western Ghats
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India
Why in news
Sep 2026
The Centre reissued the draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area across 56,825 sq km of these hills spanning six states. The Centre declared the biodiversity hotspot an eco-sensitive area, with the notification stuck at its sixth draft amid state-level resistance.
Jul 2026
The Centre reissued the draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area across 56,825 sq km of these hills spanning six states. The Centre declared the biodiversity hotspot an eco-sensitive area, with the notification stuck at its sixth draft amid state-level resistance.
Key facts
- The Centre reissued the draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area across 56,825 sq km of these hills spanning six states. The Centre declared the biodiversity hotspot an eco-sensitive area, with the notification stuck at its sixth draft amid state-level resistance.
UPSC relevance
Prelims
Prelims may ask its location and the range it belongs to.
Mains
Mains (GS-1): physiography and ecological significance.
Asked in UPSC
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1999, 1997, 1996
Frequently asked questions
Why is Western Ghats in the news?
Jul 2026: The Centre reissued the draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area across 56,825 sq km of these hills spanning six states. The Centre declared the biodiversity hotspot an eco-sensitive area, with the notification stuck at its sixth draft amid state-level resistance. Sep 2026: The Centre reissued the draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area across 56,825 sq km of these hills spanning six states. The Centre declared the biodiversity hotspot an eco-sensitive area, with the notification stuck at its sixth draft amid state-level resistance.
Why is Western Ghats important for UPSC?
Prelims may ask its location and the range it belongs to. Mains (GS-1): physiography and ecological significance.
Last updated: 2026-10-09