India loses over 46,000 sq km of forest land in a decade, Arunachal Pradesh worst affected
New Delhi: Over the past decade, India has lost nearly 46,000 sq km of forest land, with Arunachal Pradesh recording the highest loss of 6,539 sq km, according to the latest India State of Forest Report. Other states with significant losses include Madhya Pradesh (5,353 sq km) and Maharashtra (4,052 sq km).
In southern India, Andhra Pradesh (5,560 sq km), Telangana (4,926 sq km), and Karnataka (3,328 sq km) were among the most affected states.
The report highlights three categories of forest degradation:
1. Dense forests turning into open forests (10-40% canopy density).
2. Open forests degrading into scrublands (less than 10% canopy density).
3. Scrublands transforming into non-forest areas.
The combined degradation over the decade totals 92,989 sq km, with dense forests accounting for nearly 93,000 sq km of the loss. Of this, 50% has been entirely converted into non-forest areas, including croplands, settlements, water bodies, grasslands, snow-covered regions, and deserts.
Environmentalists have raised concerns about the increasing conversion of forests into non-forest lands, which could severely impact biodiversity. Debadityo Sinha, an ecologist with the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, remarked, “Many of these areas are home to significant engineering projects like mines, highways, and strategic developments, which have intensified following recent amendments to the Forest Conservation Act.”
The report also warns about the spread of Vilayati Kikar (Prosopis juliflora), an invasive alien species, which has emerged as one of the top five agroforestry species in 2023.
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Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
