Why in News?

A landmark ecological study has estimated the Total Economic Value (TEV) of Tamil Nadu’s Pichavaram Mangrove Forest at approximately ₹2,485.38 crore. The valuation highlights the significant ecological, economic and climate-regulation services provided by mangrove ecosystems, many of which are not reflected in conventional market-based economic assessments.

Key Findings of the Study

Total Economic Value

The estimated ecological value of Pichavaram translates into approximately ₹1.83 crore per hectare. This valuation captures several non-market ecological benefits that are often overlooked in conventional development planning.

Soil Carbon as the Major Contributor

Soil organic carbon is the largest contributor to the Total Economic Value and accounts for nearly half of the total value.

Pichavaram’s mangrove sediments store approximately 251.14 tonnes of carbon per hectare, compared with around 79.45 tonnes per hectare in above-ground vegetation.

This demonstrates that mangrove conservation must focus not only on protecting the visible mangrove vegetation but also on preserving the carbon-rich sediments beneath it.

Ecosystem Services of Pichavaram

Carbon Sequestration

Mangroves act as highly effective carbon sinks, storing substantial quantities of carbon in both their biomass and sediments. This makes them an important component of climate-change mitigation.

Coastal Protection

Pichavaram functions as a natural bio-shield between land and sea. Its vegetation helps stabilise coastlines, reduce coastal erosion and buffer the impacts of cyclones and other extreme weather events.

By reducing exposure to coastal hazards, mangroves can also help lower disaster-related economic losses and expenditure.

Fisheries and Livelihood Security

The nutrient-rich mangrove ecosystem provides an important nursery habitat for marine organisms. It supports commercially valuable species such as tiger prawns and mud crabs, thereby contributing to the livelihood security of local coastal communities.

Tourism and Recreation

Pichavaram supports eco-tourism and recreational activities, particularly boating and nature tourism. These activities generate economic value while also supporting local livelihoods.

Nature-Based Solution

Pichavaram represents a Nature-based Solution (NbS) for disaster risk reduction, coastal stabilisation, climate adaptation and livelihood protection.

Global Conservation Context

The valuation assumes greater significance in the context of the 2024 IUCN Red List of Ecosystems, which identified 50% of the world's mangrove ecosystems as being at risk of collapse.

The finding highlights the need to treat mangroves as natural capital rather than merely as coastal vegetation.

Policy Significance

The study recommends incorporating the economic value of ecosystem services into frameworks such as Natural Capital Accounting and Green GDP.

Mechanisms such as Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and blue-carbon financing can also be used to create economic incentives for mangrove conservation and sustainable management.

Key Facts about Pichavaram Mangrove Forest

Geographical Location

Pichavaram Mangrove Forest is located in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

It lies strategically between two important estuaries:

Vellar Estuary → North

Coleroon (Kollidam) Estuary → South

• The Vellar, Coleroon and Uppanar rivers are interconnected and together form the highly productive Killai backwater complex.

• Geomorphology and Hydrography

• Pichavaram is an intertidal forested wetland characterised by a complex network of approximately 4,400 large and small canals.

• These canals connect the river mouths, Killai backwaters and the Bay of Bengal through a narrow littoral sandbar channel.

Vegetation

• Pichavaram contains a diverse vegetation profile consisting of a transition between mangrove vegetation, salt marshes and Dry Evergreen Forests.

• The mangrove trees are rooted in shallow, brackish water, with extensive areas remaining submerged.

• Important Mangrove Species

• Rhizophora apiculata is characterised by prominent stilt roots, which provide structural support in soft and waterlogged soils.

• Avicennia marina possesses specialised pneumatophores, commonly known as breathing roots, which facilitate gas exchange in waterlogged sediments.

Fauna

• Pichavaram serves as a nutrient-rich nursery ground for marine organisms, including commercially important tiger prawns and mud crabs.

• The wetland also supports several important bird species, including the Spot-billed Pelican, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and White-bellied Sea-eagle.

• Role in Disaster Risk Reduction

• The mangrove ecosystem acts as a natural bio-shield between the land and the sea.

• Its dense root systems help trap sediments, stabilise shorelines and reduce coastal erosion, while the vegetation can moderate the impacts of cyclones, storm surges and other extreme coastal events.

• Thus, Pichavaram contributes simultaneously to disaster risk reduction and climate-change adaptation.

Global Recognition

Pichavaram was designated as a Ramsar Wetland in 2022.

It is also recognised as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.

Why in News?

Recently, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court highlighted an unused constitutional provision concerning the appointment of a “distinguished jurist” as a Supreme Court judge.

While addressing the 13th Convocation of National Law University, Delhi, he noted that although the Constitution has been in force for more than 76 years, no person has so far been appointed to the Supreme Court through this route.

Constitutional Provision: Article 124(3)

Article 124(3) lays down the qualifications for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court. A person must be a citizen of India and satisfy any one of three alternative conditions.

A person may have served as a High Court judge for at least five years. Alternatively, the person may have been an advocate of a High Court, or of two or more High Courts in succession, for at least ten years. The third route is available to a person who is, in the opinion of the President, a “distinguished jurist.”

The first two routes have been used in practice, whereas the distinguished jurist route has never been utilised for appointing a Supreme Court judge.

Who is a “Distinguished Jurist”?

The Constitution does not define the expression “distinguished jurist.” It is generally understood to refer to an eminent person with exceptional expertise in legal scholarship, jurisprudence, constitutional law, legal research or teaching.

The provision potentially allows a highly accomplished legal academic or scholar to become a Supreme Court judge even without having first served as a High Court judge or having the prescribed period of courtroom practice. Justice Bhuyan has similarly described the expression as covering eminent persons involved in the practice, teaching and research of law.

Historical Background

The provision emerged during the Constituent Assembly debates in 1949. H.V. Kamath proposed the inclusion of a distinguished jurist so that the pool of potential Supreme Court judges would not be restricted only to practising lawyers and judges.

The idea was supported during the debates, including by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Comparative examples of academics entering constitutional courts were also discussed in this context.

Position in High Courts

The Constitution originally did not provide a distinguished-jurist route for High Court appointments under Article 217.

During the Emergency period, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 introduced such a provision for High Courts. However, the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 subsequently repealed it. Thus, the distinguished-jurist route currently remains specifically associated with Supreme Court appointments under Article 124(3)(c).

Why Could Distinguished Jurists Add Value?

Diversification of the Bench

Distinguished legal scholars could bring perspectives based on academic research, jurisprudence and comparative constitutional law, thereby broadening the professional backgrounds represented on the Supreme Court.

Constitutional and Public-Law Expertise

The Supreme Court frequently deals with complex questions involving constitutional interpretation, fundamental rights, federalism, administrative law and public policy. A jurist with extensive academic expertise could contribute specialised theoretical and comparative perspectives to such cases. Justice Bhuyan argued that such scholarship could contribute to the Court's decision-making.

Broader Legal Perspective

Unlike a career path centred primarily on courtroom practice, academic legal work often involves long-term research, comparative studies and theoretical analysis. This can potentially complement the practical experience of judges and advocates already represented on the Bench.

Why Has the Provision Remained Unused?

Limited Institutional Exploration

One explanation discussed by Justice Bhuyan is that the provision may not have been seriously explored by successive governments and, later, the Collegium. He suggested that the issue deserves renewed consideration.

Collegium System

Under the contemporary system of judicial appointments, Supreme Court appointments involve the Supreme Court Collegium. Therefore, although Article 124(3)(c) refers to the President's opinion, the constitutional provision operates within the modern judicial-appointment framework, including the Collegium's role.

Separation Between Academia and Legal Practice

There is a structural separation between full-time legal academia and courtroom practice. This can make the career paths of legal scholars quite different from those of advocates who traditionally enter the higher judiciary.

Absence of a High Court Route

Since the distinguished-jurist provision for High Courts was removed by the 44th Amendment, an academic jurist does not have an equivalent constitutional route through the High Courts before potentially being considered for the Supreme Court.

Judicial Career and Seniority

The higher judiciary has traditionally developed through judicial and practising-lawyer career pathways. Directly appointing an academic jurist, particularly one without prior judicial experience, could therefore raise questions concerning judicial seniority and institutional integration.

Use as Amicus Curiae

Legal academics and specialists can already contribute to Supreme Court proceedings as amicus curiae, or “friends of the court,” particularly in complex matters. This provides one institutional mechanism through which specialised academic expertise can assist judicial decision-making without appointment to the Bench.

Key Constitutional Provisions

Why in News?

Recently, a gold mining site collapsed in the western part of the Central African Republic (CAR), reportedly killing at least 30 miners and leaving several others trapped.

About Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. Its geographical location places it at the crossroads of the central African region.

Location and Boundaries

The country shares borders with six countries:

Chad lies to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the south, the Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and Cameroon to the west.

The capital city of the Central African Republic is Bangui, located in the southwestern part of the country along the Ubangi River.

Geographical Features

Topography

The Central African Republic is largely characterised by a plateau landscape covered predominantly by savannah grasslands.

Climate

The country has a predominantly tropical climate, with climatic conditions varying across different parts of the country.

Major Rivers

The Ubangi (Oubangui) River is one of the country's major rivers. It is an important tributary of the Congo River.

In the northern part of the country, the Chari River forms part of the drainage system leading towards Lake Chad.

Highest Point

The highest point of the Central African Republic is Mount Ngaoui, with an elevation of approximately 1,410 metres.

It is located in the Karre Mountains.

Natural Resources

The Central African Republic is endowed with considerable mineral resources.

Major resources include diamonds, gold, uranium, iron ore, copper and manganese. Among these, diamonds and gold are particularly important mineral resources.

Dzanga-Sangha National Park

The Dzanga-Sangha National Park is located in the southwestern part of the country.

It forms part of the Sangha Trinational landscape and is internationally important for its rich Central African rainforest biodiversity, including forest elephants and western lowland gorillas.

Why in News?

Recently, an Indian Army contingent departed for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026).

About Exercise MAITREE

Exercise MAITREE is a joint military exercise between India and Thailand. It was instituted in 2006 and serves as an important platform for sharing best practices and strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

In the 2026 edition, the Indian Army contingent is represented primarily by troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles.

Focus of Exercise MAITREE-XV

The exercise involves company-level joint training with a particular focus on operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain.

The training is designed to improve the ability of both armies to operate together in challenging environments and respond to complex security situations.

Objectives

The primary objective of Exercise MAITREE is to strengthen military cooperation between India and Thailand.

The exercise will enhance the combined capabilities of the two armies to conduct Joint Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorist Operations in jungle and semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

Training Activities

The exercise includes a combination of field exercises, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, followed by a culminating validation exercise.

The participating contingents will also exchange operational experiences and showcase contemporary equipment and technologies used during joint operations.

Significance

Exercise MAITREE strengthens interoperability and operational coordination between the Indian and Thai armed forces. It also contributes to the further strengthening of the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Thailand.

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) developed India’s first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) variety ‘Asha’.

This development can support precision breeding, disease resistance, climate resilience and productivity improvement in pigeonpea.

About Pigeonpea

Pigeonpea is popularly known as ‘Arhar’ or ‘Tur’ and is one of India’s important pulse crops. It is a leguminous crop and an important source of dietary protein.

In India, pigeonpea is primarily consumed in the form of dal. It is predominantly a tropical crop and is widely cultivated in the semi-arid regions of the country.

Climatic Conditions

Rainfall

Pigeonpea requires around 600–650 mm of annual rainfall. It needs moist conditions during the initial eight weeks, followed by relatively dry conditions during flowering and pod development.

Temperature

During the rainy season, pigeonpea grows well at temperatures of around 26–30°C. During the post-rainy season, particularly from November to March, suitable temperatures are around 17–22°C.

Soil

Although pigeonpea can be cultivated in different types of soils, sandy loam and loam soils are considered particularly suitable.

The crop is sensitive to low solar radiation during pod development. Therefore, flowering during prolonged monsoon or cloudy conditions can result in poor pod formation.

Pigeonpea is also commonly cultivated as an intercrop with a wide range of other crops.

Major Diseases

Important diseases affecting pigeonpea include:

Wilt, Sterility Mosaic Disease, Phytophthora Blight, Alternaria Blight and Powdery Mildew.

Among these, Fusarium wilt and Sterility Mosaic Disease are particularly important constraints to pigeonpea production.

Health Benefits

Pigeonpea has a low glycaemic index and provides several important nutrients.

It is rich in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin A, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium.

Its high protein content makes it particularly important for improving nutritional security in populations where pulses are a major source of plant-based protein.

Major Pigeonpea Producing States

Major pigeonpea-producing states mentioned include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

T2T Reference Genome of Pigeonpea

The development of a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome for the pigeonpea variety ‘Asha’ represents an important advancement in crop genomics.

A T2T genome aims to provide a highly complete representation of the chromosomes, extending from one telomere to the other and reducing gaps that may exist in conventional genome assemblies.

A fully annotated genome can help researchers identify and study genes associated with important agricultural traits, including yield, disease resistance, environmental adaptation and nutritional characteristics.