Kariyachalli Island Latest News
Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has started an initiative to save the sinking Kariyachalli island.
About Kariyachalli Island
- It is located in the Gulf Of Mannar region which is one of India’s most ecologically sensitive marine zones.
- Kariyachalli is one of the 21 islands in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park region, located on the southeastern coast of India between Rameshwaram and Thhothukudi. The gulf is home to one of the four major coral reefs in India.
- Kariyachalli island possess beaches, sand dunes, spit and sandy plains.
- The uninhabited island has sunk significantly over the past few decades due to rapid erosion, rising sea levels and degradation of the surrounding coral reef and seagrass meadows.
- According to a report by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras’s (IIT Madras), Department of Ocean Engineering island’s landmass shrank by over 70 per cent in 2024 compared to 1969.
- About a third of the coral around the island has bleached on average and further degradation and disappearance of coral reefs would make the island more vulnerable to erosion, the report stated.
- At the current rate of erosion, the island is expected to be submerged by 2036. With just a decade left, government authorities are now racing to save it from disappearing.
- The Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources (TNSHORE) project, expected to start in August 2025, will try to restore the reefs with artificial modules, planting seagrass beds and reviving marine life.
Source: DTE
Last updated on January, 2026
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Interview Guidance Programme for expert help to crack your final UPSC stage.
→ UPSC Mains Result 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC Notification 2026 is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2026.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ Prepare effectively with Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Prelims Test Series 2026 featuring full-length mock tests, detailed solutions, and performance analysis.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Best UPSC Mentorship Program for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!
→ UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
Kariyachalli Island FAQs
Q1. Which Indian islands are called coral islands?+
Q2. Where is the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve located?+
Tags: kariyachalli island prelims pointers upsc current affairs upsc prelims current affairs



