The 'Mangrove Cell' initiative in 2025 is primarily linked to which Indian state?

Question

The 'Mangrove Cell' initiative in 2025 is primarily linked to which Indian state?

1. A. Odisha
2. B. Andhra Pradesh
3. C. Maharashtra (Correct answer)
4. D. West Bengal

Correct Answer

Option C — Maharashtra

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Maharashtra.

Key Points

• The Mangrove Cell is a dedicated unit of the Maharashtra Forest Department, set up to protect and restore the state's mangroves — the first such specialised body created by an Indian state.
• Maharashtra's mangroves are concentrated around Mumbai, Thane creek and the Konkan coast, where they buffer storm surge and support fisheries; Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary lies within this belt.
• Mangroves are salt-tolerant intertidal forests that stabilise shorelines and store large amounts of "blue carbon".
• India's largest mangrove tract is the Sundarbans in West Bengal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site — a common distractor here, so read whether the question asks about the largest mangrove area or a named institutional initiative.

Additional Information

• Mangroves are protected under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and are classified as CRZ-I, the most restricted category.
• India's mangrove cover is assessed by the Forest Survey of India in the biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
• The Sundarbans is the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest, shared with Bangladesh, and is the habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger — a Ramsar site, a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site simultaneously.

प्रश्न (हिन्दी में)

2025 में 'मैंग्रोव सेल' पहल मुख्य रूप से किस भारतीय राज्य से जुड़ी है?

1. A. ओडिशा
2. B. आंध्र प्रदेश
3. C. महाराष्ट्र
4. D. पश्चिम बंगाल