The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 26th July 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Healing Manipur

Why in News?

 A delicate peace requires political leaders to commit to true reconciliation. 

Introduction

The decline in the misuse of President’s Rule since the 1990s marks a positive shift in India’s federal politics, driven by the S.R. Bommai verdict, stronger regional parties, and public awareness. However, its recent extension in Manipur highlights an ongoing constitutional breakdown, worsened by ethnic conflict and fragile governance following the collapse of the BJP-led state government.

Decline in Misuse of President’s Rule

• The use of President’s Rule, once often politically misused by the Centre, has significantly decreased since the 1990s.
• This shift is attributed to:
• The landmark S.R. Bommai judgment,
• The emergence of regional parties with national influence,
• Growing public disapproval of its misuse.
• Today, President’s Rule is mostly applied in cases of:
• Constitutional crises or
• Grave internal security threats, such as in Manipur.
• Recently, its extension in Manipur (from August 13) drew little opposition due to ongoing instability.

Complex Ground Situation in Manipur

• Following the resignation of CM N. Biren Singh and the fall of the BJP government, a tenuous calm has emerged.
• Crackdown on militant groups has reduced open violence.
• Some displaced families from the May 2023 conflict have begun returning.
• However, serious issues persist:
• Ethnic divisions remain entrenched between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities.
• Buffer zones still segregate communities physically.
• Kuki-Zo groups demand a separate administration.
• Hardline Meitei groups label fellow citizens as "outsiders".

Need for Balanced Administrative and Political Measures

• Administrative steps should focus on:
• Disarming ethnic militias,
• Ending the climate of impunity,
• Supporting moderate voices pushing for peace.
• Civil society activists were earlier targeted for challenging biased governance.
• Rule of law must be paired with political action to be effective.
• Despite its past electoral support across communities, the BJP has failed to mend ethnic divisions.
• This is largely due to the national leadership's detachment, leaving the matter to bureaucrats and security personnel.
• While President’s Rule may be necessary for now, success must not be judged merely by reduced violence.
• The Centre must take proactive steps to heal ethnic divides.
• Lasting peace in Manipur depends on:
• The political will of parties and civil society,
• A collective effort to defy extremism and pursue reconciliation.

Conclusion

• While President’s Rule ensures administrative order, sustainable peace in Manipur requires more.
• The Centre must lead with political initiatives, encourage civil society engagement, and address ethnic grievances with empathy.
• Relying solely on security forces or bureaucrats will not heal divisions.
•  A unified effort by political actors is essential to achieve reconciliation, justice, and a truly inclusive democracy.

The Scientist Who Made ‘Mangroves’ a Buzzword

Why in News?

 Mangrove forests, once considered unimportant and merely wet land, are now recognized as vital components of coastal ecosystems and crucial in combating climate change. 

Introduction

Until the late 1980s, only local communities living near mangroves understood their value, relying on them for fishing and livelihoods. Today, however, mangroves are acknowledged for their roles in disaster protection, carbon storage, enhancing coastal fisheries, and preserving bird habitats along coastlines.

Early Advocacy for Mangroves and Climate Action

• In 1988, the UNDP and UNESCO initiated a mangrove research project, but it was M.S. Swaminathan in 1989 who emphasized mangroves' importance in addressing climate change.
• At a conference in Tokyo, he warned that rising sea levels would lead to the salinization of coastal lands and waters, adversely affecting food production and employment.
• Swaminathan also pointed out that increasing cyclone frequency, due to rising sea temperatures, would result in loss of life, livelihoods, and natural ecosystems.
• He called for immediate action to manage mangrove wetlands sustainably, considering ecological, economic, and equity factors.
• Additionally, he advocated using mangrove genetic resources to develop salt-tolerant crops, like rice, by transferring salinity-tolerance genes from mangroves.

Building Global Institutions for Mangrove Protection

• Thanks to Swaminathan’s efforts, the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) was established in 1990 in Okinawa, Japan, with Swaminathan as its Founding President until 1993.
• He contributed to the Charter for Mangroves, which was incorporated into the World Charter for Nature by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. This charter continues to guide global mangrove conservation efforts.

Shaping Perceptions and Policy Through Science and Education

• The ISME significantly influenced global perceptions of mangroves by assessing their economic and ecological value and organizing workshops on their conservation and sustainable use.
• The Society published a manual on mangrove restoration and created the World Mangrove Atlas, aiding in the shift of public and policy views from considering mangroves as worthless marshlands to recognizing them as crucial coastal ecosystems.
• ISME continues to promote applied research, provide training to stakeholders, and serve as a global knowledge hub for mangrove issues.

Global Contributions to Mangrove Conservation

• One of Swaminathan’s significant contributions was the development of the Global Mangrove Database and Information System (GLOMIS), a searchable database on mangrove researchers, species, and studies, including genetic documentation.
• In 1992, guided by Swaminathan, a team of scientists surveyed 23 mangrove sites across nine countries in South, Southeast Asia, and Oceania to establish a global network of Mangrove Genetic Resource Centres, now managed as Protected Areas by national governments.

Reforming Mangrove Management in India

• Swaminathan was instrumental in changing mangrove policies in India, where mangrove use dates back to 1783, but extensive clearing for agriculture and settlements occurred, particularly in the Sundarbans.
• The clear-felling method, prevalent from the British era until the Indian Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, led to restoration failures, initially blaming local communities for degradation.
• Researchers from the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation identified ecosystem changes due to clear-felling as the primary cause of degradation, not local communities.

Scientific Innovation and Community-based Restoration

• Starting in 1993, the Foundation collaborated with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, other states, and local communities on participatory research, leading to the fishbone canal method, a hydro-ecological restoration technique successfully tested in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
• This method expanded into a larger Joint Mangrove Management programme, evaluated and recommended for replication across India by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2000.
• The importance of mangroves was underscored during the 1999 Odisha super cyclone and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which demonstrated their role in reducing loss of life and property, prompting large-scale restoration efforts in India and globally.

Conclusion

World Mangrove Day (July 26) provides an opportunity to assess progress in mangrove conservation. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 indicates that India has 4,991.68 km² of mangrove forests, constituting about 0.15% of the country’s land area, with a significant increase of 16.68 km² in mangrove cover compared to ISFR 2019.