Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

This question tests knowledge about the biogeographical distribution of marsupials and their ecological adaptations. Statement I correctly identifies that marsupials are not naturally found in India, while Statement II incorrectly restricts their habitat requirements.

✅ Statement I – Correct: Marsupials are indeed not naturally found in India. They are primarily native to Australia (kangaroos, koalas, wombats), the Americas (opossums), and Papua New Guinea. India falls outside the natural distribution range of marsupials.

❌ Statement II – Incorrect: This statement is factually wrong on multiple counts. Marsupials do not require montane grasslands exclusively and can thrive in diverse habitats including forests, deserts, savannas, wetlands, and even urban areas. They also coexist with various predators in their natural habitats (e.g., dingoes in Australia). The claim that they can thrive "only" in montane grasslands with no predators is completely false.

📝 Short Notes: Marsupials - Distribution and Ecology

• Definition: Marsupials are mammals characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young that continue development in a pouch (marsupium).
• Primary Distribution: Australia (~70% of all marsupial species), Americas (opossums), Papua New Guinea, and nearby islands.
• Habitat Diversity: Marsupials occupy varied habitats - rainforests (tree kangaroos), deserts (bilbies), grasslands (kangaroos), forests (koalas), and wetlands (water opossums).
• Examples: Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, possums, and opossums.
• Evolutionary Significance: Marsupials represent an ancient mammalian lineage that thrived in Gondwanaland before continental drift isolated populations.
• Indian Context: No native marsupials exist in India due to biogeographical separation and different evolutionary pathways in the Indian subcontinent.