- Why in news
- On 13 September 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reviewed MISHTI progress in Gujarat at a mangrove workshop in Bhuj. He launched the Mangrove GIS (MGIS) Portal and released a Kachchh mangrove book and the Mangroves Atlas of Gujarat.
- What it is
- MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) is a Government of India programme for mangrove plantation and restoration along the coast and on saltpan lands. It was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. It aims to protect shorelines and raise incomes of coastal communities, and is run by the Environment Ministry, with funds drawn from CAMPA and MGNREGS convergence.
- Gujarat progress
- Gujarat has covered 27,652 ha under MISHTI against its 2023-27 target of 29,250 ha.
- Kori Creek
- 12,450 ha of the restored area is in the Kori Creek region, described as ecologically challenging.
- Guneri inland mangroves
- Guneri inland mangroves in Kachchh were declared Gujarat's first Biodiversity Heritage Site in January 2025.
- MGIS portal
- The Mangrove GIS (MGIS) Portal was launched to support science-based decision-making and monitoring of mangrove habitats in the state.
- Origin
- MISHTI was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 and is implemented by the Environment Ministry.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Mangroves protect shorelines from cyclones and erosion and support fisheries and livelihoods.
- They store carbon, aiding climate resilience.
Problems
- Restoration in harsh sites like Kori Creek needs site-specific methods; plantation survival can be poor.
- Industrial and port expansion and saltpan conversion pressure coastal land.
Way forward
- Use scientific, site-specific restoration with GIS-based monitoring.
- Involve local communities through biodiversity management committees and livelihood options like seaweed cultivation.
Put in your answer
Gujarat MISHTI progress: 27,652 ha restored against a 29,250 ha target for 2023-27, including 12,450 ha in Kori Creek.
Community-led example: Guneri inland mangroves, a rare ecosystem away from the coast, are conserved by a village Biodiversity Management Committee.
- 2019Mains GS1 · Q5Causes of mangrove depletion and their importance for coastal ecology
- 2022Mains GS3 · Q18Causes and effects of coastal erosion and management techniques
- 1996Prelims Q49Assertion and reason: mangroves stabilise shorelines and bulwark against sea
- 2011Prelims Q76How mangroves act as a safety hedge against coastal calamities
- 2026Prelims Q23Rationale for protecting mangroves for climate resilience and livelihoods
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes):
Which one of the following statements is correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Under MISHTI, Gujarat has covered 27,652 hectares against its 2023–27 target of 29,250 hectares.
True. 27,652 ha covered against a 29,250 ha target for 2023-27.
2.The Guneri inland mangroves in Kachchh were declared Gujarat's first Biodiversity Heritage Site in January 2025.
True. Guneri was declared Gujarat's first Biodiversity Heritage Site in January 2025.
3.MISHTI is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
False. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
4.Most of the mangrove area restored in Gujarat under MISHTI lies in the Kori Creek region.
False. Kori Creek accounts for 12,450 ha of the 27,652 ha, which is less than half.
5.The Mangrove GIS (MGIS) Portal launched at Bhuj is meant for science-based decision-making and monitoring of mangrove habitats.
True. The portal supports science-based decision-making and monitoring.
6.MISHTI is a programme to plant mangroves only along the east coast of India.
False. It covers mangrove plantation along the coastline and saltpan lands across coastal states, not only the east coast.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 13 Sep, 20:00 IST · Release 294654
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.