Ramsar Sites in India 2026: All 103 Wetlands MCQ & List
As of October 15, 2026, India protects 103 designated Ramsar Sites spanning 1,387,981 hectares (13,879.81 sq km) across 25 States and 3 Union Territories—ranking 1st in Asia and 3rd globally behind the United Kingdom and Mexico. This 2026 study module pairs a quick-revision mindmap and 11 structured data tables with 30 exam-grade MCQs and four-point analytical explanations. Coverage spans the 1971 Ramsar Convention and India's 1982 enforcement, recent milestones including Surha Tal (100th), Glaw Lake (101st), Sukhna Wetland (102nd), and Sauj Jheel (103rd), state leaders Tamil Nadu (20) and Uttar Pradesh (14), size extremes from Sundarban Wetland (4,230 sq km) to Renuka Wetland (20 ha), the Montreux Record, Wetland City Accreditation, and Amrit Dharohar.
- Total Tally (Oct 2026): 103 Sites (1,387,981 ha / 28 States & UTs)
- Latest Additions: Surha Tal (100th), Glaw Lake (101st), Sukhna (102nd), Sauj Jheel (103rd)
- Top State Tallies: Tamil Nadu (20), Uttar Pradesh (14), Bihar/Odisha/Punjab (6)
- Montreux Record: Keoladeo NP & Loktak Lake (Chilika removed in 2002)
📌 Ramsar Wetland Sites in India (2026 Edition): Quick Summary & Study Notes
India's wetland conservation architecture encompasses 103 designated Ramsar Sites spanning 1,387,981 hectares across 28 States and Union Territories (25 States and 3 Union Territories) as of October 2026.
- Treaty Foundations: Signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, the global convention promotes the 'wise use' of wetlands; India acceded on October 1, 1981, and the treaty entered into force in India on February 1, 1982.
- 2025-2026 Expansion: Rapid additions raised India's tally from 26 sites in 2013 to 103 sites by October 2026, highlighted by Surha Tal (100th), Glaw Lake (101st), Sukhna Wetland (102nd), and Sauj Jheel (103rd).
- Spatial Distribution: India ranks 1st in Asia and 3rd globally, with Tamil Nadu (20 sites) and Uttar Pradesh (14 sites) leading state tallies while Sundarban Wetland (4,230 sq km) and Renuka Wetland (20 ha, alongside Vembannur at 19.75 ha) mark size extremes.
- Policy & Stewardship: National frameworks including the Wetlands Rules 2017, MoEFCC's EIACP (formerly ENVIS) network, Amrit Dharohar, Mission Sahbhagita, MISHTI, and Wetland City Accreditation drive catchment protection and local livelihoods.
1. India's Ramsar Network Expansion & State-Wise Distribution (Oct 2026)
India's Ramsar Network Has Expanded Nearly Fourfold Since 2014 to Reach 103 Sites
Total Ramsar Sites
103
As of Oct 15, 2026
Total Wetland Area
13.87 Lakh Ha
Across 28 States & UTs
Rank in Asia
1st
Highest in the region
Global Rank
3rd
Among 172 Parties
Milestone Progression to 103 Sites (2014 – Oct 2026)
100th Site Landmark Latest Total
Cumulative designations highlighting the rapid sprint between 2025 and 2026
26
96
98
100
101
103
2014
Dec 2025
Feb 2026
Jun 2026
Aug 2026
Oct 2026
Top 9 States by Ramsar Site Distribution
Tamil Nadu & Uttar Pradesh lead nationally (states with 5 or more declared wetlands)
Tamil Nadu
20
Uttar Pradesh
14
Bihar
6
Odisha
6
Punjab
6
Gujarat
5
Jammu & Kashmir
5
Madhya Pradesh
5
Rajasthan
5
Cumulative growth of designated Wetlands of International Importance in India through October 15, 2026, and distribution across leading states. Collectively, the 103 sites cover over 13.87 lakh hectares across 28 States and Union Territories.
2. Ramsar Convention & India's National Wetland Profile: Master Fact Sheet (October 2026)
| Parameter / Category | Exact Exam Data & Figures | Key Analytical Notes for Students |
|---|---|---|
| Official Treaty Name | Convention on Wetlands of International Importance | Only global environmental treaty focused on a single ecosystem type (wetlands). |
| Signing Date & Location | February 2, 1971 — Ramsar, Iran | Adopted on the shores of the Caspian Sea; World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 (first celebrated in 1997, 26 years after signing). |
| Date of Enforcement | December 21, 1975 | Came into force after the required seven member nations ratified or acceded to the treaty. |
| Headquarters (Secretariat) | Gland, Switzerland | Operates from the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); supported by 6 International Organization Partners (IOPs), CBD, and CITES. |
| Three Pillars of the Convention | (1) Wise use of all wetlands (2) Designation & management of Ramsar sites (3) International cooperation | Broadly defines wetlands to include marshes, fens, peatlands, lakes, rivers, estuaries, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, coral reefs, fish ponds, rice paddies, and reservoirs. |
| Global Ramsar Network (Oct 2026) | Over 2,536 Sites across 172 Contracting Parties | Forms the world's largest protected area network, covering over 2.5 million sq km (more than 257 million hectares). Prominent global examples include Llanos de Moxos (Bolivia) and Okavango Delta (Botswana). |
| Global & Regional Rankings | World: 1st UK, 2nd Mexico, 3rd India Asia: 1st India | Continental Share of Global Wetland Area: 1st Asia (31.8%), 2nd North America (27.1%), 3rd Latin America & the Caribbean (15.8%). |
| India's Entry into the Treaty | February 1, 1982 (Entry into Force) | Accession & First 2 Indian Sites (Oct 1, 1981): Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), designated upon accession prior to formal entry into force. |
| Nodal Ministry in India | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) | Coordinates site proposals with State Wetland Authorities; requires regular ecological monitoring and updating the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) every 6 years. |
| India's Total Tally (Oct 15, 2026) | 103 Ramsar Sites across 28 States & UTs | Covers 1,387,981 hectares (over 13.87 lakh ha or 13,879.81 sq km) across 25 States and 3 UTs. |
| Decadal Growth Trajectory | 1981–2013: 26 Sites 2014–Oct 2026: 103 Sites | Nearly fourfold expansion; 18 new sites added across 2025–2026 alone (11 sites in 2025 reaching 96 by Dec 2025, and 7 sites between Jan–Oct 2026 reaching 103). |
| India's Total Natural Wetland Area | 4.63% (nearly 5%) of India's geographical area (15.26 million ha) | Inland Wetlands: 69.23% (10.56 million ha) Coastal Wetlands: 27.13% (4.14 million ha) Small Wetlands (<2.25 ha): 3.64%. |
3. Geographical Superlatives & Extremes of Indian Wetlands (Static GK Reference)
| Superlative Category | Wetland Site / State | Area / Elevation / Metric | Key Ecological & Historical Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Ramsar Sites of India | Chilika Lake (Odisha) & Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) | Designated: October 1, 1981 | Keoladeo (formerly Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, 2,873 ha) was notified as a National Park on March 10, 1982, and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. |
| 100th Ramsar Site of India | Jai Prakash Narayan BS / Surha Tal (Ballia, Uttar Pradesh) | Designated: June 2026 | Natural Indo-Gangetic floodplain oxbow lake located near the Ganga and Ghaghara rivers. |
| Latest (102nd & 103rd) Sites | Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh) & Sauj Jheel (Mainpuri, UP) | Designated: October 15, 2026 | Sukhna is the 102nd site (1st in Chandigarh UT); Sauj Jheel is the 103rd site. |
| Largest Ramsar Site in India (1st) | Sundarban Wetland (West Bengal) | 4,23,000 ha (4,230 sq km) | Designated Jan 30, 2019; holds the largest share of India's mangrove cover (~60% per 2019 RSIS / 42.45% per ISFR) in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. |
| 2nd Largest Ramsar Site in India | Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Kerala) | 1,51,250 ha (1,512.5 sq km) | Also the longest lake in India; southwest coastal backwater estuarine system. |
| 3rd Largest Ramsar Site in India | Chilika Lake (Odisha) | 1,16,500 ha (1,165 sq km) | Largest brackish water coastal lagoon in Asia and 2nd largest coastal lagoon in the world. |
| Smallest Ramsar Site in India | Renuka Wetland (Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh) | 20 ha (0.2 sq km) | Designated in 2005; natural karst spring-fed lake shaped like a sleeping woman, named after Goddess Renuka (Vembannur Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu records 19.75 ha, rounded to 20 ha on RSIS). |
| Highest-Altitude Ramsar Sites | Tsomoriri Lake & Tso Kar Wetland Complex (Ladakh) | ~4,595 m & above 4,500 m above sea level | Located in the Changthang cold desert; Tsomoriri (12,000 ha) is one of the highest Ramsar sites globally; Tso Kar (9,577 ha) means "White Lake" due to hypersaline white salt efflorescence. |
| Largest Inland Salt Lake in India | Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) | Designated: 1990 | Major saline endorheic basin and critical wintering ground for thousands of flamingos. |
| Largest Freshwater Lake in NE India | Loktak Lake (Manipur) | Designated: 1990 | Famous for circular floating decomposing organic masses called phumdis and Keibul Lamjao, the world's only floating national park. |
| Largest Natural Lake in Mizoram | Pala Wetland (Mizoram) | Revered by the Mara community | Deeply linked to local tribal folklore and surrounded by tropical evergreen forests. |
| Only Meteorite Impact Crater Ramsar Site | Lonar Lake (Buldhana, Maharashtra) | 427 ha (Designated: 2020) | Formed by a hyper-velocity meteorite impact on basaltic rock; water is uniquely both saline and alkaline. |
| State with Highest Number of Sites | Tamil Nadu | 20 Ramsar Sites (1,008.81 sq km) | Followed by Uttar Pradesh (14 sites), and Bihar, Odisha, and Punjab (6 sites each). |
| State with Largest Protected Ramsar Area | West Bengal | 2 Sites (4,355 sq km combined) | Holds the largest total wetland area under the Ramsar list in India via Sundarban Wetland (4,230 sq km) and East Kolkata Wetlands (125 sq km). |
| State with Largest Total Natural Wetland Area | Gujarat | 3.47 million hectares (~22.8% of India's wetlands) | Followed by Andhra Pradesh (1.45 m ha), Uttar Pradesh (1.24 m ha), West Bengal (1.11 m ha), and Maharashtra (1.01 m ha) per ISRO/MoEFCC National Wetland Atlas. |
4. Chronological Tracker of Recent Additions (2025–2026) & First-Time States/UTs
| Site Name | State / UT | Year / Milestone | Area (ha) | Key Exam Highlights & First-Time Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary | Jharkhand (Sahibganj) | Jan 2025 | 935.5 ha | 1st Ramsar site of Jharkhand; comprises two interconnected Ganga-linked floodplain lakes (Patauran Jheel and Berhale Jheel) joined via the 25 km Udhwa Nala channel. |
| Khecheopalri Wetland | Sikkim (Gyalshing / West Sikkim) | Jan 2025 | 172 ha | 1st Ramsar site of Sikkim; sacred wish-fulfilling Himalayan lake revered by Buddhists and Hindus, surrounded by temperate broad-leaved forests and carbon-storing peatlands. |
| Sakkarakottai BS & Therthangal BS | Tamil Nadu (Ramanathapuram) | Jan 2025 | — | Raised Tamil Nadu's national-leading tally to 20 Ramsar sites (following 2024 additions of Karaivetti BS, Longwood Shola RF, Kazhuveli BS, and Nanjarayan BS). |
| Khichan Wetland & Menar Wetland Complex | Rajasthan (Phalodi & Udaipur) | June 2025 | — | Exemplars of community-led conservation; Khichan is famous for wintering demoiselle cranes, and Menar is near Udaipur. |
| Gokul Jalashay & Udaipur Jheel | Bihar (Buxar & West Champaran) | Sept 2025 | 448 ha & 319 ha | Gangetic floodplain oxbow lakes acting as natural monsoon flood buffers and Central Asian Flyway wintering refuges. |
| Gogabeel Lake | Bihar (Katihar) | Nov 2025 (94th Site) | 86.63 ha | Oxbow lake between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers; Bihar's 1st Community Reserve (declared in 2019); raised Bihar's tally to 6 sites. |
| Kopra Jalashay (Kopra Reservoir) | Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur) | Dec 12, 2025 (95th Site) | 210 ha | 1st Ramsar site of Chhattisgarh; rain-fed irrigation reservoir (built in 1993) in the upper Mahanadi catchment; aligns with "Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision 2047" (targeting 20 Ramsar sites by 2030). |
| Siliserh Lake | Rajasthan (Alwar) | Dec 12, 2025 (96th Site) | 316 ha | Human-made lake built in 1845 by Maharaja Vinay Singh to supply drinking water to Alwar; located in the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve; raised Rajasthan's tally to 5 sites. |
| Patna Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh (Etah) | Jan/Feb 2026 (WWD 2026) | — | Announced in late January 2026 on the eve of World Wetlands Day (February 2, 2026). |
| Chhari-Dhand | Gujarat (Kutch) | Jan/Feb 2026 (WWD 2026) | — | Seasonal Banni desert wetland announced in late January 2026 ahead of World Wetlands Day; raised Gujarat's tally to 5 sites. |
| Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh (Aligarh) | 2026 (99th Site) | — | Freshwater perennial marsh supporting migratory waterfowl along the Central Asian Flyway. |
| Jai Prakash Narayan BS (Surha Tal) | Uttar Pradesh (Ballia) | June 2026 (100th Site) | — | Historic 100th Ramsar site of India; natural floodplain oxbow lake in the Ganga-Ghaghara interfluve. |
| Glaw Lake | Arunachal Pradesh (Lohit) | Aug 2026 (101st Site) | — | 1st Ramsar site of Arunachal Pradesh; located inside Kamlang Tiger Reserve; fed by perennial mountain streams and serves as a major source of the Kamlang River. |
| Sukhna Wetland | Chandigarh (UT) | Oct 15, 2026 (102nd Site) | — | 1st Ramsar site of Chandigarh; rain-fed peri-urban reservoir at the foothills of the Shivalik hills. |
| Sauj Jheel | Uttar Pradesh (Mainpuri) | Oct 15, 2026 (103rd Site) | — | Shallow perennial floodplain lake sheltering over 30,000 waterbirds and nesting sarus cranes; raised Uttar Pradesh's tally to 14 sites. |
5. River Basin, Delta & Confluence Associations of Major Indian Ramsar Sites
| Ramsar Wetland Site | State / UT | Associated River / Basin / Confluence | Hydrological Function & Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundarban Wetland | West Bengal | Ganga & Brahmaputra Delta (Bay of Bengal) | Tide-dominated mangrove estuary shielding the coast from cyclones and storing blue carbon. |
| Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | Between Krishna & Godavari Deltas | Shallow freshwater lake (90,100 ha) acting as a natural flood-balancing reservoir between the two river deltas. |
| Nandur Madhameshwar | Maharashtra | Confluence of Godavari & Kadwa Rivers (Nashik) | Maharashtra's 1st Ramsar site (1,437 ha); barrage-created mosaic of lakes, marshes, and riparian forests. |
| Asan Conservation Reserve | Uttarakhand | Confluence of Asan & Yamuna Rivers (Dehradun) | 444-hectare river stretch supporting migratory waterfowl and Himalayan fish species. |
| Gogabeel Lake | Bihar | Between Ganga & Mahananda Rivers (Katihar) | Natural oxbow lake absorbing seasonal monsoon floodwaters in flood-prone Bihar (where over 70% of North Bihar's plains are flood-vulnerable). |
| Surha Tal (Jai Prakash Narayan BS) | Uttar Pradesh | Near Ganga & Ghaghara Rivers (Ballia) | Floodplain oxbow lake recharged by seasonal river overflow; controls floods and recharges local groundwater. |
| Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary | Jharkhand | Linked to Ganga River via the 25 km Udhwa Nala channel | Twin floodplain lakes (Patauran and Berhale Jheel) in Sahibganj district that mitigate monsoon floods. |
| Upper Ganga River | Uttar Pradesh | Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora stretch) | Shallow river stretch providing critical habitat for the Gangetic dolphin, gharial, and freshwater turtles. |
| Kopra Jalashay | Chhattisgarh | Upper catchment of Mahanadi River (Bilaspur) | Rain-fed reservoir originally constructed in 1993 for irrigation and hydrological buffering. |
| Satkosia Gorge, Hirakud & Ansupa | Odisha | Mahanadi River Basin | Satkosia is a narrow gorge of the Mahanadi; Hirakud is a major reservoir; Ansupa is an oxbow lake in the basin. |
| Deepor Beel | Assam | Former channel of Brahmaputra River | Permanent freshwater floodplain lake critical for monsoon storm-water absorption. |
| Glaw Lake | Arunachal Pradesh | Major source of Kamlang River (Lohit District) | Perennial mountain-stream-fed lake inside Kamlang Tiger Reserve. |
| Nanda Lake | Goa | Adjacent to a tributary of Zuari River (Curchorem) | Intermittent freshwater marshes storing monsoon runoff. |
| Wular Lake, Hokersar, Hygam, Shallbugh | Jammu & Kashmir | Jhelum River Basin (Kashmir Valley) | Tectonic and floodplain basins critical for Jhelum flood absorption and migratory waterfowl staging. |
| Harike, Ropar, Kanjli, Beas CR, Nangal | Punjab | Indus River System (Beas & Sutlej Basins) | Barrage reservoirs and river stretches supporting the endangered Indus river dolphin and gharial. |
| Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary | Karnataka | Islets in the Kaveri River | Riverine island ecosystem supporting large colonies of waterbirds and aquatic fauna. |
| Aghanashini Estuary | Karnataka | Aghanashini River meets the Arabian Sea | Free-flowing estuarine mangrove ecosystem supporting rich coastal biodiversity. |
6. Flagship Fauna, Threatened Species & Biodiversity Hotspots by Ramsar Site
| Flagship / Threatened Species | Conservation & Ecological Note | Key Associated Indian Ramsar Site(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Four Himalayan Big Cats (Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard) | Co-exist within a single high-altitude wetland basin | Glaw Lake (Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh — also contains over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species). |
| White-Bellied Heron | Critically Endangered | Glaw Lake (Arunachal Pradesh). |
| Oriental White-Backed Vulture (White-Rumped Vulture) | Critically Endangered | Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary (Jharkhand). |
| Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), River Tern (Sterna aurantia) | Endangered (Egyptian Vulture) / Vulnerable (Eagle & Tern) | Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh — supports 60+ migratory bird species) & Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan — River Tern). |
| Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) | Supports >1% of biogeographic population | Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan — also supports 149 bird & 17 mammal species including endangered Bengal tiger, leopard, sambar deer, and crocodiles). |
| Sangai (Brow-Antlered Deer) | Endangered & Endemic to Manipur | Loktak Lake (Manipur — inhabits floating phumdis in Keibul Lamjao National Park). |
| Royal Bengal Tiger | Endangered (Unique aquatic hunting & swimming skills) | Sundarban Wetland (West Bengal — alongside saltwater crocodiles, northern river terrapins, and river dolphins). |
| Irrawaddy Dolphin | Endangered | Chilika Lake (Odisha) & Sundarban Wetland (West Bengal). |
| Indus River Dolphin | Endangered | Beas Conservation Reserve & Harike Lake (Punjab). |
| Gangetic River Dolphin & Gharial | Endangered / Critically Endangered | Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora) & Haiderpur Wetland (Uttar Pradesh). |
| Dugong (Sea Cow) | Vulnerable Marine Mammal | Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu — coral reef and seagrass beds). |
| Black-Necked Crane, Tibetan Wild Ass (Kiang), Bar-Headed Goose, Snow Leopard | Threatened Trans-Himalayan Fauna | Tsomoriri Lake & Tso Kar Wetland Complex (Ladakh — primary breeding ground in India for the Near Threatened Black-necked Crane). |
| Sarus Crane | Vulnerable (Nesting & resident habitats) | Sauj Jheel, Sarsai Nawar Jheel, Saman BS, Sur Sarovar (Uttar Pradesh), Sirpur & Yashwant Sagar (Madhya Pradesh). |
| Demoiselle Crane | Winter Migratory Visitor | Khichan Wetland (Rajasthan) & Wadhvana / Nalsarovar (Gujarat). |
| Siberian Crane (Historic) | Critically Endangered (Central Asian Flyway) | Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Rajasthan). |
| Lesser Adjutant Stork & Smooth-Coated Otter | Vulnerable | Gogabeel Lake (Katihar, Bihar — supports 90+ bird species). |
| Spot-Billed Pelican (Grey Pelican) & Painted Stork | Colonial Waterbirds (Near Threatened) | Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh). |
| Three-Striped Roofed Turtle | Critically Endangered Freshwater Turtle | Rudrasagar Lake (Tripura — also houses the historic Neermahal water palace). |
| Hoolock Gibbon | Endangered (India's only ape) | Pala Wetland (Mizoram). |
| Flamingos (Greater & Lesser) | Migratory Shorebirds | Thane Creek (Maharashtra), Nalsarovar, Khijadia, Thol, Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat), Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan), Point Calimere (Tamil Nadu). |
| Golden Mahseer Fish | Freshwater Game & Conservation Fish | Renuka Wetland (Himachal Pradesh). |
7. Ecological & Geomorphological Classification of Indian Ramsar Sites
| Wetland Ecosystem Type | Representative Indian Ramsar Examples | Primary Ecological & Hydrological Role |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Mangroves & Estuarine Creeks | Sundarban Wetland (WB), Bhitarkanika Mangroves (Odisha), Pichavaram Mangrove (TN), Thane Creek (Maharashtra), Aghanashini Estuary (Karnataka) | Cyclone and storm-surge buffering, shoreline stabilization, marine nurseries, and high-density "blue carbon" storage. |
| Brackish Coastal Lagoons & Backwaters | Chilika Lake (Odisha), Vembanad-Kol Wetland & Ashtamudi Wetland (Kerala), Kazhuveli BS & Point Calimere (TN) | Maintain delicate freshwater-seawater salinity gradients supporting both marine and inland aquatic biodiversity and fisheries. |
| Marine Coral Reefs & Seagrass Beds | Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu) | Protects shallow marine islands, coral reefs, seagrass beds (dugong habitat), and coastal mangroves. |
| Indo-Gangetic Floodplain Oxbow Lakes (Jheels / Taals) | Kanwar Taal, Gogabeel, Gokul Jalashay, Udaipur Jheel (Bihar), Surha Tal, Parvati Arga, Sauj Jheel, Bakhira (UP), Ansupa Lake (Odisha) | Formed by meandering river channels; absorb monsoon river overflow, mitigate floods, and recharge alluvial aquifers. |
| High-Altitude Glacial, Tectonic & Endorheic Lakes | Tsomoriri & Tso Kar (Ladakh), Chandertal (HP), Wular Lake (J&K), Khecheopalri (Sikkim), Glaw Lake (Arunachal Pradesh) | Regulate Himalayan snowmelt hydrology, store carbon in alpine peatlands, and serve as trans-Himalayan migratory bird staging grounds. |
| Meteorite Impact Basaltic Crater Lake | Lonar Lake (Buldhana, Maharashtra) | Closed basin formed by hyper-velocity meteorite impact on basaltic rock; unique saline and alkaline water supports specialized haloalkaliphilic microbes. |
| High-Altitude Montane Shola Perched Aquifers | Longwood Shola Reserve Forest (Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu) | Montane shola forest and perched aquifers that feed perennial mountain streams in the Nilgiris. |
| Karst Underground Spring-Fed Lakes | Renuka Wetland (Himachal Pradesh), Sasthamkotta Lake (Kerala) | Sustained by underground karst springs and seasonal monsoon runoff. |
| Peri-Urban Flood Buffers & Sewage-Treatment Wetlands | East Kolkata Wetlands (WB), Pallikaranai Marsh (Chennai, TN), Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh), Sirpur & Bhoj Wetlands (MP), Sultanpur & Bhindawas (Haryana) | Absorb urban monsoon runoff; East Kolkata Wetlands (12,500 ha total area with ~4,000 ha of sewage-fed fish ponds) naturally treat 750 million liters of city wastewater daily while producing fish and vegetables. |
| Arid & Semi-Arid Irrigation Tanks, Reservoirs & Salt Pans | Sambhar Lake, Siliserh, Keoladeo (Rajasthan), Nalsarovar, Wadhvana, Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat), Vellode, Vedanthangal, Vaduvur (TN), Magadi Kere (Karnataka) | Human-made or seasonal basins that recharge groundwater tables, support agriculture, and host winter waterbird congregations in dry zones. |
8. Montreux Record & Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation Reference Table
| Register / Accreditation | Indian Sites / Cities Included | Year Listed / Accredited | Key Reasons, Ecological Threats & Restoration Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreux Record (Currently Listed) (Adopted in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1990; currently holds 48 sites globally facing ecological character changes) | (1) Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) | July 4, 1990 | Placed on the register due to persistent water shortages and invasive weeds (Paspalum distichum and Prosopis juliflora) affecting migratory bird habitats. |
| Montreux Record (Currently Listed) | (2) Loktak Lake (Manipur) | June 16, 1993 | Placed on the register due to catchment deforestation, siltation, invasive weed proliferation, pollution, and water-level stagnation from the Ithai Barrage affecting floating phumdis and Sangai deer habitat. |
| Montreux Record (Removed After Restoration) | Chilika Lake (Odisha) | Listed: June 16, 1993 Removed: Nov 11, 2002 | Problem: Siltation and sedimentation choked the sea mouth connecting the lagoon to the Bay of Bengal, lowering salinity and harming fisheries and birds. Solution: The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) dredged a new channel at Sipakuda to the sea in September 2000, restoring natural tidal flushing, salinity balance, fish stocks, and Irrawaddy dolphins. CDA won the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award (2002). |
| Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation (Honors cities that conserve urban and peri-urban wetlands and prevent encroachment/sewage pollution) | (1) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) (2) Udaipur (Rajasthan) | January 2025 (India's 1st Accredited Wetland Cities) | Indore: Home to two designated Ramsar sites—Sirpur Wetland and Yashwant Sagar—which supply drinking water and provide habitat for migratory birds and the sarus crane. Udaipur: Famous for its interconnected lakes (Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar) and community-protected wetlands, including the Menar Wetland Complex (designated a Ramsar site in June 2025). |
9. Complete State-Wise & UT-Wise Inventory of All 103 Ramsar Sites (As of October 2026)
| Rank | State / Union Territory | Total Sites | Complete List of Designated Ramsar Sites | Key State-Level Ecological & Hydrological Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamil Nadu | 20 | (1) Point Calimere WLS & BS, (2) Koonthankulam BS, (3) Chitrangudi BS, (4) Karikili BS, (5) Pichavaram Mangrove, (6) Pallikaranai Marsh RF, (7) Gulf of Mannar Marine BR, (8) Vembannur Wetland Complex, (9) Vellode BS, (10) Vedanthangal BS, (11) Udhayamarthandapuram BS, (12) Vaduvur BS, (13) Kanjirankulam BS, (14) Suchindram-Theroor Wetland Complex, (15) Kazhuveli BS, (16) Nanjarayan BS, (17) Karaivetti BS, (18) Longwood Shola RF, (19) Sakkarakottai BS (2025), (20) Therthangal BS (2025) | Highest number of sites in India (1,008.81 sq km); spans coastal mangroves, coral reefs (dugong habitat), urban flood marshes, Nilgiri shola perched aquifers, and historic community heronries. |
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh | 14 | (1) Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora), (2) Nawabganj BS, (3) Parvati Arga BS, (4) Saman BS, (5) Samaspur BS, (6) Sandi BS, (7) Sarsai Nawar Jheel, (8) Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake), (9) Haiderpur Wetland, (10) Bakhira WLS, (11) Patna BS (Jan/Feb 2026), (12) Shekha Jheel BS (99th Site, 2026), (13) Jai Prakash Narayan BS / Surha Tal (100th Site, June 2026), (14) Sauj Jheel (103rd Site, Oct 2026) | Second-highest state tally; dominated by Indo-Gangetic floodplain marshes, perennial oxbow lakes, sarus crane nesting habitats, and gharial/dolphin river stretches. |
| 3 | Bihar | 6 | (1) Kanwar Taal (Kabartal), (2) Nagi BS, (3) Nakti BS, (4) Gokul Jalashay (Sept 2025), (5) Udaipur Jheel (Sept 2025), (6) Gogabeel Lake (94th Site, Nov 2025) | Rapidly expanded network of Gangetic and Mahananda oxbow lakes serving as vital monsoon flood buffers and Central Asian Flyway wintering nodes. |
| 3 | Odisha | 6 | (1) Chilika Lake (1981), (2) Bhitarkanika Mangroves, (3) Satkosia Gorge, (4) Tampara Lake, (5) Hirakud Reservoir, (6) Ansupa Lake | Home to Asia's largest brackish lagoon (Chilika, removed from Montreux Record in 2002), India's second-largest mangrove ecosystem, and Mahanadi gorge habitats. |
| 3 | Punjab | 6 | (1) Harike Lake, (2) Kanjli Lake, (3) Ropar Lake, (4) Beas Conservation Reserve, (5) Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve, (6) Nangal WLS | Indus-basin riverine and barrage reservoirs supporting the endangered Indus river dolphin, gharial, and community-managed waterfowl reserves. |
| 6 | Gujarat | 5 | (1) Nalsarovar BS, (2) Wadhvana Wetland, (3) Thol Lake WLS, (4) Khijadia WLS, (5) Chhari-Dhand (Jan/Feb 2026) | Encompasses arid-zone irrigation reservoirs, coastal salt marshes, and seasonal Banni desert wetlands supporting flamingos and cranes. |
| 6 | Jammu & Kashmir | 5 | (1) Wular Lake, (2) Hokersar Wetland, (3) Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, (4) Hygam Wetland CR, (5) Shallbugh Wetland CR | Kashmir Valley tectonic and floodplain basins critical for Jhelum flood absorption and migratory waterfowl staging. |
| 6 | Madhya Pradesh | 5 | (1) Bhoj Wetlands, (2) Sirpur Wetland, (3) Sakhya Sagar, (4) Yashwant Sagar, (5) Tawa Reservoir | Urban and tiger-reserve reservoirs; Indore (home to Sirpur and Yashwant Sagar) became a Ramsar-accredited Wetland City in January 2025. |
| 6 | Rajasthan | 5 | (1) Keoladeo Ghana NP (1981), (2) Sambhar Lake (1990), (3) Khichan Wetland (2025), (4) Menar Wetland Complex (2025), (5) Siliserh Lake (96th Site, Dec 2025) | Features a Montreux Record site (Keoladeo), India's largest inland salt lake (Sambhar), community-protected demoiselle crane habitats, and Sariska buffer reservoirs. |
| 10 | Karnataka | 4 | (1) Ranganathittu BS, (2) Ankasamudra Bird CR, (3) Aghanashini Estuary, (4) Magadi Kere CR | Combines Kaveri river islets, free-flowing Arabian Sea estuarine mangroves, and historic village irrigation tanks. |
| 11 | Himachal Pradesh | 3 | (1) Pong Dam Lake, (2) Chandertal Wetland, (3) Renuka Wetland | Includes India's smallest Ramsar site (Renuka Wetland, 20 ha) and high-altitude Spiti sweet-water glacial lakes. |
| 11 | Kerala | 3 | (1) Ashtamudi Wetland, (2) Sasthamkotta Lake, (3) Vembanad-Kol Wetland | Southwest coastal backwater estuaries and spring-fed lakes; Vembanad-Kol (1,512.5 sq km) is India's longest lake and second-largest Ramsar site. |
| 11 | Maharashtra | 3 | (1) Nandur Madhameshwar, (2) Lonar Lake, (3) Thane Creek | Includes a hyper-velocity meteorite impact basaltic crater lake (Lonar), urban flamingo mangrove creeks, and Godavari-basin barrages. |
| 14 | Haryana | 2 | (1) Sultanpur National Park, (2) Bhindawas WLS | Peri-urban seasonal and human-made freshwater marshes serving as crucial wintering refuges along the Central Asian Flyway. |
| 14 | Ladakh | 2 | (1) Tsomoriri Lake, (2) Tso Kar Wetland Complex | Trans-Himalayan high-altitude endorheic lakes serving as breeding grounds for the black-necked crane and snow leopard habitats. |
| 14 | West Bengal | 2 | (1) East Kolkata Wetlands, (2) Sundarban Wetland | Protects the largest total wetland area under the Ramsar list (4,355 sq km); features India's largest Ramsar site (Sundarban, 4,230 sq km) and a natural sewage-treatment fishery system. |
| 17 | Andhra Pradesh | 1 | (1) Kolleru Lake | Extensive 90,100-hectare shallow freshwater lake situated between the Krishna and Godavari deltas. |
| 17 | Arunachal Pradesh | 1 | (1) Glaw Lake (101st Site, Aug 2026) | First Ramsar site of the state; Eastern Himalayan lake in Kamlang Tiger Reserve supporting four big cat species and the white-bellied heron. |
| 17 | Assam | 1 | (1) Deepor Beel | Permanent freshwater floodplain lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River. |
| 17 | Chandigarh | 1 | (1) Sukhna Wetland (102nd Site, Oct 2026) | First Ramsar site of the UT; rain-fed Shivalik foothill peri-urban reservoir supporting migratory waterbirds. |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | 1 | (1) Kopra Jalashay (95th Site, Dec 2025) | First Ramsar site of the state; rain-fed reservoir in the upper catchment of the Mahanadi River in Bilaspur district. |
| 17 | Goa | 1 | (1) Nanda Lake | Intermittent freshwater marshes adjacent to a tributary of the Zuari River in Curchorem. |
| 17 | Jharkhand | 1 | (1) Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary (Jan 2025) | First Ramsar site of the state; comprises two Ganga-linked water bodies (Patauran and Berhale Jheel) supporting critically endangered vultures. |
| 17 | Manipur | 1 | (1) Loktak Lake | Largest freshwater lake in Northeast India; famous for floating phumdis, Sangai deer habitat, and inclusion on the Montreux Record. |
| 17 | Mizoram | 1 | (1) Pala Wetland | Largest natural lake in Mizoram; deeply revered by the local Mara community and home to the hoolock gibbon. |
| 17 | Sikkim | 1 | (1) Khecheopalri Wetland (Jan 2025) | First Ramsar site of the state; sacred high-altitude Himalayan lake surrounded by temperate forest and peatland. |
| 17 | Tripura | 1 | (1) Rudrasagar Lake | Natural sedimentation reservoir housing the historic Neermahal water palace and the three-striped roofed turtle. |
| 17 | Uttarakhand | 1 | (1) Asan Conservation Reserve | 444-hectare stretch of the Asan River confluent with the Yamuna River in Dehradun district. |
| — | Total (28 States & UTs) | 103 | All 103 Designated Wetlands of International Importance | Total Surface Area: 1,387,981 hectares (over 13.87 lakh ha or 13,879.81 sq km) |
10. The 9 Quantitative & Ecological Criteria for Identifying Ramsar Sites
| Group | Sub-Category | Criterion | Qualifying Threshold / Ecological Standard (Must meet at least 1 of 9) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Representative, Rare, or Unique Wetland Types | Criterion 1 | Contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. |
| Group B | Species and Ecological Communities (International Importance for Conserving Biological Diversity) | Criterion 2 | Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities. |
| Group B | Species and Ecological Communities | Criterion 3 | Supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region. |
| Group B | Species and Ecological Communities | Criterion 4 | Supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions. |
| Group B | Specific Criteria Based on Waterbirds | Criterion 5 | Regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds. |
| Group B | Specific Criteria Based on Waterbirds | Criterion 6 | Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird. |
| Group B | Specific Criteria Based on Fish | Criterion 7 | Supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species, or families, life-history stages, species interactions, and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values. |
| Group B | Specific Criteria Based on Fish | Criterion 8 | Serves as an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery, and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend. |
| Group B | Specific Criteria Based on Other Taxa | Criterion 9 | Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent non-avian animal species. |
11. Indian Wetland Governance, Central Schemes & Strategic Conservation Matrix
| Scheme / Legal Framework / Challenge | Governing Ministry / Scope | Core Objectives, Quantified Achievements & Policy Mechanisms |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 & 2017 | MoEFCC & State Wetland Authorities | Domestic statutory framework framed in 2010 and updated in 2017 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to legally protect wetlands and their surrounding catchment "zones of influence" against encroachment and land-use conversion. |
| Amrit Dharohar Initiative | MoEFCC (Launched June 2023) | Promotes conservation values of Ramsar sites across 4 Core Pillars: (1) Species and habitat conservation, (2) Nature tourism, (3) Wetlands livelihoods, and (4) Wetlands carbon stock assessment. Achievements: Floral and faunal inventories completed for 75+ Ramsar sites; carbon stock assessments conducted at 39+ sites. |
| Mission Sahbhagita & Save Wetlands Campaign | MoEFCC & Citizen Volunteers | Promotes community-led participatory wetland management; under the Save Wetlands Campaign, over 20 lakh volunteers ('Wetland Mitras') have mapped and ground-truthed more than 1.7 lakh wetlands across India. |
| MISHTI Scheme | MoEFCC (Coastal States & UTs) | Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (launched June 5, 2023); has disbursed ₹88.44 crore to restore nearly 10,000 hectares of degraded coastal mangroves. |
| EIACP (formerly ENVIS), GRIDSS & GSDP | MoEFCC | EIACP / ENVIS: Central Sector Scheme operating through Resource Partners and Hubs (such as SACON, ZSI, WWF-India, and IISc Bengaluru) compiling nationwide data on wetlands, biodiversity, and pollution. NES / GRIDSS: District-level Grid-based Resource Information and Decision Support System. GSDP: Green Skill Development Programme training youth as parataxonomists and wetland managers. |
| Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision 2047 | Government of Chhattisgarh | State-level conservation vision targeting 20 wetlands in Chhattisgarh to be recognized as Ramsar sites by 2030 (initiated with Kopra Jalashay on December 12, 2025). |
| 4 Systemic Pressures Facing Indian Wetlands | All 103 Ramsar Sites Nationwide | (1) Peri-urban real estate encroachment. (2) Untreated municipal and agrochemical runoff causing hyper-eutrophication and invasive water hyacinth proliferation. (3) Upstream catchment siltation that severs riverine feeder channels. (4) Fragmented administrative jurisdiction across revenue, irrigation, fishery, and forestry departments. |
| 3-Point Strategic Conservation Roadmap (Future Outlook) | River Basin & State Wetland Authorities | (1) Mandatory Ecological Flow (e-flow) Protocols: Regulate upstream barrages and agricultural water diversions to guarantee continuous base flows into floodplain oxbows and estuarine lagoons, preventing seasonal desiccation and salinity shocks. (2) Statutory Notification & GIS Cadastres: Accelerate formal notification of all 103 sites and their zones of influence under the 2017 Rules using high-resolution GIS satellite cadastres and the EIACP-GRIDSS database. (3) Participatory Co-Management: Scale community stewardship models pioneered at Khichan (Rajasthan), Menar (Rajasthan), Gogabeel (Bihar), and East Kolkata Wetlands (West Bengal) through Amrit Dharohar and Mission Sahbhagita. |
Official Data Sources & Verification (October 2026 Update): All 103 Ramsar wetland surface areas (1,387,981 ha), designation dates, criteria thresholds, and state/UT tallies in this module are cross-verified against the Ramsar Sites Information Service (RSIS, Gland, Switzerland), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Wetlands of India Portal, the EIACP (formerly ENVIS) Resource Partner Network, the ISRO National Wetland Atlas, and the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
📖 Ramsar Wetland Sites in India (2026 Edition): Detailed Q&A
1. Fundamentals of the Ramsar Convention & India's Entry (1971–1982)
Ramsar Convention Basics
What does the Ramsar Convention deal with?
The Ramsar Convention is the sole global environmental treaty dedicated specifically to the conservation and wise, sustainable use of wetland ecosystems.
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- Core Purpose of the Treaty: The Ramsar Convention is an international environmental treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It is the only global intergovernmental treaty focused on one specific ecosystem type.
- Three Pillars of Action: Under the convention, member countries commit to three main pillars: working toward the wise use of all their wetlands, designating suitable wetlands for the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List) and managing them effectively, and cooperating internationally on transboundary wetlands and migratory species.
- Broad Definition of Wetlands: The treaty defines wetlands broadly (up to 6 meters depth at low tide in marine waters) to include marshes, fens, peatlands, lakes, rivers, estuaries, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, coral reefs, and human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, and reservoirs.
- Ecological Benefits: Protecting these wetland sites conserves biological diversity, regulates the natural water cycle, recharges groundwater, buffers coastlines against storms, and stores carbon to mitigate climate change.
Treaty Signing History
In which year and country was the Ramsar Convention signed?
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was officially adopted on February 2, 1971, in the Caspian Sea city of Ramsar, Iran.
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- Adoption at Ramsar: Because of the city where the treaty was signed, wetlands included on this list are known globally as Ramsar Sites.
- Enforcement Timeline: Although the agreement was signed in February 1971, the convention officially entered into force on December 21, 1975, after the required seven countries ratified or acceded to the treaty.
- Secretariat Headquarters: The administrative headquarters (Secretariat) of the Ramsar Convention is located in Gland, Switzerland, where it operates from the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- International Organization Partners: The treaty is supported by six International Organization Partners (IOPs—BirdLife International, IUCN, IWMI, Wetlands International, WWF, and WWT) and works alongside global biodiversity agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and CITES.
India's Treaty Entry
When did the Ramsar Convention formally enter into force in India?
Following India's accession on October 1, 1981, the Ramsar Convention officially entered into force for India as a Contracting Party on February 1, 1982.
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- Accession vs. Entry into Force: India deposited its instrument of accession on October 1, 1981 (simultaneously designating its first two wetlands), and under treaty rules the Ramsar Convention formally entered into force in India four months later on February 1, 1982.
- Nodal Ministry in India: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) acts as the nodal agency in the Government of India for coordinating with State and UT Wetland Authorities to identify, propose, and manage Ramsar sites.
- Domestic Legal Rules: Guided by the 'wise use' principles of the Ramsar Convention, the Government of India notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules in 2010 and replaced them with the decentralized Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Six-Year Monitoring Duty: Once a wetland is designated as a Ramsar site in India, the government must monitor its ecological character regularly and update its Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) every six years.
First Indian Sites
Which two wetlands were the 1st Ramsar sites of India?
Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were jointly designated on October 1, 1981, as India's first Ramsar sites.
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- First Designation Date: Chilika Lake in Odisha and Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan were designated together on October 1, 1981, when India acceded to the treaty, making them the first Ramsar sites in India.
- Profile of Chilika Lake: Situated in Odisha and covering 116,500 hectares (1,165 sq km), Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water coastal lagoon in Asia and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world. It supports the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin and diverse coastal fisheries.
- Profile of Keoladeo National Park: Located in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan across 2,873 hectares, this human-made wetland was formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It was officially notified as a National Park on March 10, 1982, and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
- Conservation Importance: Both sites serve as historic wintering grounds along the Central Asian Flyway for migratory waterbirds, historically including the Siberian crane at Keoladeo and millions of waterfowl at Chilika.
2. Current Tally, 2025–2026 Milestones & Recent Additions
2026 National Tally
How many Ramsar sites are there in India as of October 2026?
Following the October 15, 2026 designations of Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel, India has 103 Ramsar sites spanning 1,387,981 hectares.
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- Total Number in October 2026: As of October 15, 2026, the total number of Ramsar sites in India stands at 103, following the addition of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh.
- Total Surface Area and Coverage: Collectively, all 103 Ramsar wetland sites in India cover 1,387,981 hectares (13,879.81 sq km, or over 13.87 lakh hectares) across 28 States and Union Territories—specifically 25 States and 3 Union Territories (Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh), while Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Telangana currently have no designated sites.
- Nearly Fourfold Growth: From 1981 to 2013, India had 26 Ramsar sites. Since 2014, India's Ramsar list has expanded nearly fourfold from 26 to 103 sites through nationwide wetland mapping and conservation drives.
- Rapid 2025-2026 Additions: During 2025 and 2026, India added 18 new Ramsar sites—11 sites in 2025 (reaching 96 sites by December 2025) and 7 sites between January and October 2026 (reaching 103 sites).
Latest 2026 Additions
Which two wetlands are the latest Ramsar sites of India added in October 2026?
Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh were designated on October 15, 2026, as India's 102nd and 103rd Ramsar sites.
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- Latest October 2026 Additions: On October 15, 2026, Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh were designated as the 102nd and 103rd Ramsar sites in India.
- Sukhna Wetland (Chandigarh): Sukhna Wetland is a rain-fed, peri-urban reservoir at the foothills of the Shivalik hills. It is the first Ramsar site in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and provides vital habitat for migratory and resident waterbirds.
- Sauj Jheel (Uttar Pradesh): Designated as the 103rd Ramsar site in the October 2026 update, Sauj Jheel is a shallow perennial floodplain lake in Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh. It shelters over 30,000 waterbirds and provides nesting grounds for the vulnerable Sarus crane.
- Impact on State and UT Counts: These additions gave Chandigarh its debut entry on the Ramsar list (making it the 3rd Union Territory with a Ramsar site after Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir) and raised Uttar Pradesh's tally to 14 sites.
100th Ramsar Milestone
Which wetland became the 100th Ramsar site of India in June 2026?
Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, popularly known as Surha Tal in Uttar Pradesh, achieved the milestone of becoming India's 100th Ramsar site in June 2026.
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- Historic 100th Milestone: In June 2026, Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, popularly known as Surha Tal, was designated as the 100th Ramsar site in India.
- Location in Uttar Pradesh: Surha Tal is a natural floodplain oxbow lake located in the Ballia district of eastern Uttar Pradesh in the Ganga-Ghaghara interfluve.
- Rich Avifauna: The sanctuary supports rich birdlife, acting as a vital wintering ground for thousands of migratory waterfowl arriving from Central Asia and Siberia alongside resident waterbirds and native fish.
- Flood Buffering and Livelihoods: By absorbing seasonal river overflow during the monsoon, Surha Tal mitigates local floods, recharges groundwater, and sustains traditional fishing and paddy cultivation.
Arunachal's First Site
Glaw Lake, designated as India's 101st Ramsar site in August 2026, is in which state?
Glaw Lake, situated inside Kamlang Tiger Reserve in Lohit district, became Arunachal Pradesh's first Ramsar site and India's 101st site in August 2026.
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- First Ramsar Site of Arunachal Pradesh: Designated in August 2026 as India's 101st Ramsar site, Glaw Lake (Glow Lake) is the first wetland in Arunachal Pradesh to receive Ramsar recognition.
- Kamlang Tiger Reserve Location: Situated in Lohit district inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, the natural high-altitude lake is fed by perennial mountain streams in the Kamlang River basin.
- Four Big Cat Species: The surrounding Kamlang landscape in the Eastern Himalayas is renowned for supporting four big cat species: the Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Clouded Leopard, and Snow Leopard.
- Endangered Heron and Orchids: The wetland basin provides critical habitat for the critically endangered White-bellied Heron and harbors over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species.
95th Ramsar Addition
Which wetland was designated in December 2025 as Chhattisgarh's first Ramsar site (India's 95th site)?
Kopra Jalashay in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh, was announced on December 12, 2025, as Chhattisgarh's first Ramsar site alongside Siliserh Lake in Rajasthan (sites 95 and 96).
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- December 2025 Dual Addition: On December 12, 2025, MoEFCC announced two wetlands—Kopra Jalashay (210 hectares) in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh, and Siliserh Lake (316 hectares) in Alwar district, Rajasthan—taking India's tally to 96 Ramsar sites.
- First Site of Chhattisgarh: Kopra Jalashay (Kopra Reservoir) is the first and only Ramsar site in Chhattisgarh. It is a rain-fed reservoir in the upper catchment of the Mahanadi River originally constructed in 1993 for irrigation.
- Biodiversity of Kopra Jalashay: The reservoir supports more than 60 migratory bird species, including the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the vulnerable greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), and the vulnerable river tern (Sterna aurantia).
- Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision 2047: Its designation advances the state's 'Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision 2047,' which targets securing Ramsar recognition for 20 wetlands across the state by 2030.
Rajasthan Wetland Sites
Siliserh Lake, designated as a Ramsar site in December 2025, is in which state?
Siliserh Lake is a historic 1845 human-made freshwater reservoir located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan within the Sariska Tiger Reserve buffer zone.
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- Historical Lake in Alwar: Siliserh Lake is a 316-hectare human-made freshwater lake located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. It was built in 1845 by Maharaja Vinay Singh by constructing an embankment on a tributary of the Ruparel River to supply water to Alwar city.
- Sariska Tiger Reserve Buffer: Situated 13-15 km from Alwar within the buffer zone of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the lake moderates the local microclimate and recharges groundwater in a semi-arid landscape.
- Threatened Wildlife and Birds: The site supports 149 bird species and 17 mammal species, including the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sambar deer, marsh crocodiles, the vulnerable river tern, and more than 1% of the biogeographic population of the black stork (Ciconia nigra).
- Five Sites in Rajasthan: With the 2025 additions of Khichan Wetland (Phalodi), Menar Wetland Complex (Udaipur), and Siliserh Lake (Alwar), Rajasthan holds 5 Ramsar sites alongside Keoladeo National Park (1981) and Sambhar Lake (1990).
3. Geographical Extremes & State-Wise Distribution
Largest Ramsar Site
Which is the largest (biggest) Ramsar site in India?
Covering 423,000 hectares (4,230 sq km) in West Bengal, the Sundarban Wetland is India's largest designated Ramsar site by surface area.
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- Biggest Ramsar Site by Area: Designated on January 30, 2019, the Sundarban Wetland in West Bengal is the largest Ramsar site in India, spanning 423,000 hectares (4,230 sq km, or 4.23 lakh hectares).
- Largest Share of India's Mangroves: Located in the delta of the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers on the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Sundarbans hold the largest share of India's mangrove cover—about 42.45% per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), while its 2019 Ramsar Information Sheet cites almost 60%.
- Royal Bengal Tiger Habitat: The site is world-famous for the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, adapted to amphibious hunting in tidal creeks, alongside saltwater crocodiles, northern river terrapins, and Gangetic and Irrawaddy dolphins.
- Top Three Largest Sites: After Sundarban Wetland (4,230 sq km), the second-largest Ramsar site in India is Vembanad-Kol Wetland in Kerala (1,512.5 sq km), and the third-largest is Chilika Lake in Odisha (1,165 sq km).
Smallest Ramsar Site
Which is the smallest Ramsar site in India among the following?
Spanning just 20 hectares (0.2 sq km) in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, Renuka Wetland is widely recognized as India's smallest Ramsar site.
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- Smallest Area Benchmark (20 Hectares): Renuka Wetland in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh spans just 20 hectares (0.2 sq km) and is the standard answer for India's smallest Ramsar site (note that Vembannur Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu, designated in 2022, records 19.75 hectares—rounded to 20 ha—on its official Ramsar Information Sheet).
- Spring-Fed Himalayan Lake: Designated in November 2005, Renuka is a natural oblong freshwater lake in the lower Himalayas fed by underground karst springs and monsoon runoff.
- Religious Importance: Named after the Hindu goddess Renuka (mother of Lord Parashurama), the lake's profile resembles a sleeping woman and serves as a revered pilgrimage site in Himachal Pradesh.
- Aquatic and Forest Biodiversity: Despite its compact area, the lake supports rich fish populations (including golden mahseer) and diverse fauna within the surrounding Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary.
Leading State Tally
Which state has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India in 2026?
Tamil Nadu leads all Indian states and union territories with 20 designated Ramsar wetland sites as of 2026.
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- Rank 1 State with 20 Sites: Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in India, with 20 designated wetlands covering 1,008.81 sq km as of 2026.
- 2024 and 2025 Additions: Tamil Nadu reached 20 sites in early 2025 by adding Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary and Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (both in Ramanathapuram district), following 2024 additions including Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Longwood Shola Reserve Forest, Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, and Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary.
- Diverse Wetland Types: Its 20 sites span marine coral reefs and dugong habitats (Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve), coastal mangroves (Pichavaram), urban flood buffers (Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest in Chennai), and high-altitude Nilgiri shola peatlands (Longwood Shola).
- Comparison with Other States: Behind Tamil Nadu (20 sites), Uttar Pradesh ranks second with 14 sites, while Bihar, Odisha, and Punjab are tied for third with 6 sites each.
Uttar Pradesh Sites
How many Ramsar sites are in Uttar Pradesh (UP) as of October 2026?
With four new wetlands designated in 2026, Uttar Pradesh holds 14 Ramsar sites, ranking second nationwide behind Tamil Nadu.
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- Second Highest State Tally: As of October 2026, Uttar Pradesh has 14 Ramsar sites, making it the state with the second-highest number of Ramsar wetlands in India after Tamil Nadu (20).
- Four New Sites Added in 2026: Up to December 2025, UP had 10 sites. In 2026, four new sites were added: Patna Bird Sanctuary (Etah, announced Jan 2026), Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary (Aligarh, 99th site, 2026), Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary / Surha Tal (Ballia, 100th site, June 2026), and Sauj Jheel (Mainpuri, 103rd site, Oct 2026).
- Earlier 10 Sites in UP: The earlier 10 sites are Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch), Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, Saman Bird Sanctuary, Samaspur Bird Sanctuary, Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Sarsai Nawar Jheel, Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake), Haiderpur Wetland, and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Gangetic Floodplain Importance: These Gangetic floodplain wetlands buffer monsoon floods, recharge alluvial aquifers, and shelter threatened species such as the Sarus crane, swamp deer (barasingha), gharial, and Gangetic river dolphin.
West Bengal Sites
How many Ramsar sites are in West Bengal?
West Bengal has 2 designated Ramsar sites—the East Kolkata Wetlands and the Sundarban Wetland—which together protect 4,355 sq km, the largest Ramsar wetland area of any Indian state.
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- Two Sites in West Bengal: West Bengal has 2 Ramsar sites: the East Kolkata Wetlands (designated on August 19, 2002) and the Sundarban Wetland (designated on January 30, 2019).
- Largest Protected Ramsar Area by State: Although West Bengal has only 2 sites, it accounts for the largest total Ramsar-designated area of any Indian state (4,355 sq km combined), anchored by the 4,230 sq km Sundarban Wetland and the 125 sq km East Kolkata Wetlands.
- East Kolkata Wetlands (12,500 ha): Spanning a total designated Ramsar area of 12,500 hectares (125 sq km), the East Kolkata Wetlands utilize around 4,000 hectares of sewage-fed fish ponds (bheris) and farms to naturally treat nearly 750 million liters of city wastewater daily while supplying fish and vegetables to Kolkata.
- Climate and Flood Protection: Together, the East Kolkata Wetlands drain and buffer Kolkata against urban monsoon flooding, while the Sundarban mangroves shield the deltaic coast from cyclones and sequester vast blue carbon stocks.
Andhra Pradesh Wetland
Which wetland is the sole designated Ramsar site in Andhra Pradesh?
Designated in August 2002, Kolleru Lake is Andhra Pradesh's sole Ramsar site, spanning 90,100 hectares between the Krishna and Godavari deltas.
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- Sole Ramsar Site in Andhra Pradesh: Designated on August 19, 2002, Kolleru Lake is the only Ramsar site in Andhra Pradesh, covering an expansive area of 90,100 hectares (901 sq km).
- Between Two River Deltas: Kolleru Lake is one of India's largest shallow freshwater lakes, situated in a natural coastal depression between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
- Flood Balancing Role: Fed directly by seasonal streams (such as Budameru and Tammileru) and drainage channels, the lake acts as a natural flood-balancing reservoir between the two river deltas during monsoons.
- Spot-Billed Pelican Habitat: Protected also as the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary, this wetland supports Near Threatened spot-billed pelicans (grey pelicans), painted storks, and thousands of winter migratory waterbirds alongside inland fisheries.
Maharashtra Crater Lake
How many Ramsar sites are in Maharashtra, and which one is a crater lake?
Maharashtra has 3 Ramsar sites—Nandur Madhameshwar, Lonar Lake, and Thane Creek—among which Lonar Lake is a hyper-velocity meteorite impact basaltic crater lake.
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- Three Sites in Maharashtra: Maharashtra has 3 designated Ramsar sites: Nandur Madhameshwar (1,437 hectares; designated June 2019, announced January 2020), Lonar Lake (427 hectares; designated July 2020), and Thane Creek (6,521 hectares; designated August 2022).
- Lonar Meteorite Crater Lake: Located in Buldhana district on the Deccan Traps, Lonar Lake was formed by a Pleistocene meteorite impact in basaltic rock, creating an endorheic saline and highly alkaline lake with specialized haloalkaliphilic microbes and waterbirds.
- Nandur Madhameshwar: Situated in Nashik district at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa rivers, Nandur Madhameshwar is Maharashtra's first Ramsar site and is often called the 'Bharatpur of Maharashtra' for its rich waterfowl diversity.
- Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary: Located along Mumbai's eastern waterfront, Thane Creek is a mangrove-lined estuarine creek that shelters tens of thousands of lesser and greater flamingos while buffering urban tidal floods.
4. Global Context, Ramsar Criteria, EIACP/ENVIS & Montreux Record
Global Ramsar Network
What is the approximate total number of Ramsar sites in the world as of October 2026?
As of October 2026, the global Ramsar network comprises over 2,536 designated wetland sites across 172 Contracting Parties.
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- Global Tally in 2026: As of October 2026, there are 172 Contracting Parties (member nations) and over 2,536 designated Ramsar sites across the world.
- World's Largest Protected Network: Collectively, these 2,536+ global Ramsar sites span more than 257 million hectares (over 2.5 million sq km), forming the world's largest transcontinental network of protected areas.
- Top Countries Worldwide: Among all 172 Contracting Parties, the United Kingdom (175+ sites) and Mexico (144 sites) hold the first and second positions in total number of sites, while India ranks third globally with 103 sites.
- Major Global Sites: Vast wetlands such as Rio Negro in Brazil, Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Llanos de Moxos in Bolivia, and the Okavango Delta in Botswana are among the largest Ramsar sites worldwide, while Cobourg Peninsula in Australia (1974) was the world's first.
India's Global Rank
What is India's rank in Asia and the world in total number of Ramsar sites?
With 103 designated Ramsar wetlands, India ranks 1st in Asia and 3rd worldwide behind only the United Kingdom and Mexico.
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- Number One in Asia: With 103 designated wetlands as of October 2026, India ranks 1st in Asia (ahead of China) for the highest number of Ramsar sites.
- Third in the World: Globally, India's network of 103 sites ranks 3rd in the world among 172 Contracting Parties, trailing only the United Kingdom and Mexico.
- Asia's Share of Global Wetlands: According to the Global Wetland Outlook, Asia holds the largest regional share (31.8%) of total wetland area worldwide, followed by North America (27.1%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (15.8%).
- India's Total Wetland Extent (ISRO Atlas): Per ISRO's National Wetland Atlas, wetlands cover 15.26 million hectares—4.63% (nearly 5%) of India's geographical area (including rivers, lakes, and coastal mangroves, while excluding paddy fields)—comprising 69.23% inland wetlands (10.56 million ha), 27.13% coastal wetlands (4.14 million ha), and 3.64% small wetlands under 2.25 ha.
ENVIS / EIACP Nodal Ministry
Which ministry manages the EIACP (formerly ENVIS — Environmental Information System) network for wetlands in India?
ENVIS—revamped as EIACP—operates as a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to compile and disseminate nationwide wetland and biodiversity data.
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- Central Sector Scheme Under MoEFCC: Established in 1982 as ENVIS (Environmental Information System) and revamped as EIACP (Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme), it functions as a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Environmental Data Repository: The EIACP/ENVIS network operates through Resource Partners and Hubs at premier research institutes (such as SACON, ZSI, WWF-India, and IISc Bengaluru) to compile, map, and share scientific data on Indian wetlands, biodiversity, and pollution.
- GRIDSS and Green Skills: The framework supports district-level Grid-based Resource Information and Decision Support Systems (GRIDSS) and the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP), training youth as parataxonomists and wetland managers.
- State Total Wetland Area Data: Per the ISRO/MoEFCC National Wetland Atlas, Gujarat ranks first in India in total wetland area (3.47 million ha, or ~22.8% of India's wetlands), followed by undivided pre-2014 Andhra Pradesh (1.45 million ha), Uttar Pradesh (1.24 million ha), West Bengal (1.11 million ha), and Maharashtra (1.01 million ha).
Montreux Record Sites
Which two Indian Ramsar sites are currently listed in the Montreux Record?
Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan (listed in 1990) and Loktak Lake in Manipur (listed in 1993) are the two Indian wetlands currently on the Montreux Record due to ecological threats.
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- Meaning of Montreux Record: Established by the Conference of the Contracting Parties in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1990, the Montreux Record is a priority register of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to pollution, technological development, or human interference.
- India's Two Listed Sites: Around 48 sites worldwide are listed in the Montreux Record, including two in India: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan (added July 4, 1990) and Loktak Lake in Manipur (added June 16, 1993).
- Threats at Keoladeo: Keoladeo National Park was placed on the register in 1990 due to irregular surface water inflows and invasive weed proliferation (such as Paspalum distichum and Prosopis juliflora) degrading waterbird habitats.
- Threats at Loktak Lake: Loktak Lake—Northeast India's largest freshwater lake, famous for floating biomass islands (phumdis), Keibul Lamjao National Park, and the endangered Sangai deer—was listed in 1993 due to catchment deforestation, siltation, pollution, and hydrological stagnation caused by the Ithai Barrage.
Montreux Record Removal
Which Indian wetland was removed from the Montreux Record in 2002 after successful restoration?
Chilika Lake in Odisha was removed from the Montreux Record in November 2002 after hydrological restoration reopened its tidal connection to the Bay of Bengal.
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- Placed on Record in 1993: Chilika Lake in Odisha was placed on the Montreux Record on June 16, 1993, because heavy catchment siltation choked its sea mouth to the Bay of Bengal, lowering salinity, fueling freshwater weeds, and collapsing fisheries.
- Hydrological Desiltation (2000): The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) executed a science-led hydrological intervention in September 2000 by dredging a new outer channel at Sipakuda to the sea, restoring natural tidal flushing and salinity gradients.
- Removed in November 2002: Following a dramatic rebound in fish and prawn yields, seagrass beds, migratory birds, and Irrawaddy dolphins, Chilika Lake became the first Asian site removed from the Montreux Record on November 11, 2002.
- Ramsar Conservation Award: For this exemplary community-backed rehabilitation, the Chilika Development Authority received the prestigious Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award and Evian Special Prize in 2002.
Ramsar Selection Criteria
How many criteria are used under the Ramsar Convention to identify Wetlands of International Importance?
The Ramsar Convention uses 9 quantitative and ecological criteria across Group A (unique wetland types) and Group B (biodiversity conservation) to designate Wetlands of International Importance.
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- Group A and Group B Criteria: A wetland must meet at least 1 of 9 criteria to be designated as a Ramsar site. These 9 criteria are grouped into Group A (representative, rare, or unique natural or near-natural wetland types: Criterion 1) and Group B (sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity: Criteria 2 to 9).
- Species and Ecological Communities (Criteria 2-4): Criterion 2 applies to wetlands supporting vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities; Criterion 3 covers populations vital for regional biogeographic diversity; and Criterion 4 covers species at a critical stage in their life cycle or during adverse conditions.
- Waterbird Thresholds (Criteria 5-6): Under Criterion 5, a wetland qualifies if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds. Under Criterion 6, it qualifies if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a biogeographic population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.
- Fish and Non-Avian Taxa (Criteria 7-9): Criterion 7 and Criterion 8 focus on indigenous fish subspecies/families, food sources, spawning grounds, nurseries, and migration paths, while Criterion 9 (added at COP9 in 2005) applies if a wetland regularly supports 1% of the population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent non-avian animal.
World Wetlands Day
When is World Wetlands Day celebrated every year?
World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2 to mark the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on February 2, 1971.
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- Marks the 1971 Signing Date: World Wetlands Day is observed globally on February 2 every year (and recognized as a UN International Day since 2021) to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention in Iran on February 2, 1971.
- First Celebrated in 1997: Although the treaty was adopted in 1971, World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time on February 2, 1997—exactly 26 years after the convention was signed.
- New Site Announcements: In India, MoEFCC regularly announces new Ramsar designations on the eve of World Wetlands Day; for instance, Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand in Gujarat were announced in late January 2026 ahead of World Wetlands Day on February 2, 2026.
- Community Awareness: Across India, the occasion mobilizes schools, Gram Panchayats, and Wetland Mitras for bird counts, clean-up drives, and conservation pledges under the Save Wetlands Campaign.
5. National Policy Initiatives, Urban Accreditation & Regional Sites
Wetland City Accreditation
Which two Indian cities became the first to receive Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation in January 2025?
Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Udaipur in Rajasthan became India's first cities to earn Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation in January 2025 for exemplary urban wetland stewardship.
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- India's First Wetland Cities: In January 2025, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Udaipur (Rajasthan) became the first two Indian cities to receive international Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention (introduced at COP12 in 2015), joining a select global list of accredited urban centers.
- Goal of Urban Accreditation: Valid for six years and renewable, this voluntary accreditation honors cities that safeguard urban and peri-urban wetlands, curb sewage pollution and encroachment, and integrate wetlands into municipal spatial planning.
- Indore's Ramsar Sites: Indore hosts two designated Ramsar sites—Sirpur Wetland and Yashwant Sagar—which supply municipal water, support Sarus crane breeding, and anchor citizen volunteer networks.
- Udaipur's Lake Network: Known as the 'City of Lakes,' Udaipur is surrounded by interconnected reservoirs (Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai) alongside nearby community-conserved wetlands such as the Menar Wetland Complex (designated a Ramsar site in June 2025).
Amrit Dharohar Initiative
What is the main goal of the Government of India's 'Amrit Dharohar' initiative?
Announced in Union Budget 2023-24 and launched by MoEFCC in June 2023, the Amrit Dharohar scheme advances Ramsar wetland conservation through species protection, nature tourism, green livelihoods, and carbon stock assessment.
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- Four Core Components: Implemented by MoEFCC, the Amrit Dharohar initiative promotes the optimal 'wise use' of Ramsar sites across four pillars: Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihoods, and Wetlands Carbon Stock Assessment.
- Biodiversity and Carbon Mapping: Under Amrit Dharohar, Peoples' Biodiversity Registers, floral and faunal inventories (across 75+ sites), high-value nature guide training, and wetland carbon stock assessments (across 39+ sites) have been rolled out.
- Mission Sahbhagita: Launched in 2022 alongside these efforts, Mission Sahbhagita fosters a 'whole-of-society' approach to wetland stewardship; under its Save Wetlands Campaign, over 20 lakh citizen volunteers ('Wetland Mitras') have helped map and ground-truth more than 1.7 lakh wetlands.
- MISHTI Mangrove Scheme: For coastal and estuarine wetlands, MoEFCC runs MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes), launched on June 5, 2023, disbursing ₹88.44 crore to restore nearly 10,000 hectares of degraded mangroves across coastal states and UTs.
Sikkim's First Site
Which sacred lake became the first Ramsar site of Sikkim in 2025?
Khecheopalri Wetland, a sacred high-altitude Himalayan peatland lake in Gyalshing district (formerly West Sikkim), became Sikkim's first Ramsar site in early 2025.
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- First Ramsar Site in Sikkim: Announced on the eve of World Wetlands Day in January 2025 across 172 hectares, Khecheopalri Wetland is the first and only Ramsar site in Sikkim.
- Sacred Himalayan Lake in Gyalshing: Located at around 1,700 meters elevation in Gyalshing district (formerly West Sikkim), it is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus as a sacred 'wish-fulfilling' lake associated with Guru Padmasambhava and Goddess Tara.
- Peatland and Forest Ecosystem: The lake is ringed by temperate broad-leaved forests and Sphagnum peatland formations that sequester carbon and regulate perennial mountain streams in the Rathong Chu watershed.
- Migratory Bird Stopover: Situated along an Eastern Himalayan flyway corridor, Khecheopalri serves as a vital staging and wintering refuge for trans-Himalayan migratory ducks, grebes, and forest birds.
Jharkhand's First Site
Which bird sanctuary became the first Ramsar site of Jharkhand in 2025?
Announced in January 2025 in Sahibganj district, Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is Jharkhand's first Ramsar site, encompassing two Ganga-linked floodplain lakes.
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- First Ramsar Site in Jharkhand: Designated in January 2025 across a 935.5-hectare Ramsar boundary (encompassing the 565-hectare notified bird sanctuary established in 1991) in Sahibganj district, Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is Jharkhand's first and only Ramsar site.
- Twin Ganga-Linked Lakes: The wetland complex comprises two interconnected natural oxbow/floodplain lakes—Patauran Jheel and Berhale Jheel—linked to the Ganga River via the 25-kilometer Udhwa Nala channel.
- Critically Endangered Avifauna: Udhwa Lake supports the critically endangered White-rumped Vulture (Oriental White-backed Vulture) alongside fishing cats, jacanas, storks, and thousands of winter migratory waterfowl.
- Flood Mitigation Role: Located in Jharkhand's only Ganga-riparian district, the wetland absorbs seasonal monsoon backwaters, recharges floodplain aquifers, and supports local agriculture.
Bihar Ramsar Sites
How many Ramsar sites are in Bihar after the 2025 additions?
Following the 2025 additions of Gokul Jalashay, Udaipur Jheel, and Gogabeel Lake, Bihar holds 6 designated Ramsar sites.
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- Six Sites in Bihar: Bihar holds 6 designated Ramsar sites, tying with Odisha and Punjab for the third-highest state tally in India behind Tamil Nadu (20) and Uttar Pradesh (14).
- Complete List of Bihar's 6 Sites: Bihar's 6 sites are Kabartal / Kanwar Jheel in Begusarai (2020, 2,620 ha), Nagi Bird Sanctuary in Jamui (2024, 205.8 ha sanctuary / 791 ha RSIS area), Nakti Bird Sanctuary in Jamui (2024, 332.6 ha), Gokul Jalashay in Buxar (Sept 2025, 448 ha), Udaipur Jheel in West Champaran (Sept 2025, 319 ha), and Gogabeel Lake in Katihar (Nov 2025, 86.63 ha).
- Gogabeel Lake (94th Site): Designated as India's 94th Ramsar site in November 2025 in Katihar district, Gogabeel Lake is an oxbow lake fed by the Mahananda, Kankhar, and Ganga rivers; notified in 2019 as Bihar's first Community Reserve, it supports over 90 bird species including the lesser adjutant stork and smooth-coated otter.
- Vital Flood Buffer: With over 70% of North Bihar's plains prone to seasonal inundation, these Gangetic oxbow lakes (mauns and chaurs) act as natural sponges that attenuate monsoon floods and recharge groundwater.
Ladakh High-Altitude Lakes
Which two high-altitude lakes are the designated Ramsar sites in Ladakh?
Tsomoriri Lake and the Tso Kar Wetland Complex in the Changthang cold desert are the two high-altitude Ramsar sites in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
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- Two Ramsar Sites in Ladakh: The Union Territory of Ladakh has 2 high-altitude Ramsar sites in the Changthang cold desert plateau: Tsomoriri Lake (designated in August 2002, 12,000 hectares) and Tso Kar Wetland Complex (designated in November 2020, 9,577 hectares).
- Tso Kar 'White Lake' Complex: Situated above 4,500 meters elevation, the Tso Kar basin comprises two connected lakes—the freshwater Startsapuk Tso and the hypersaline Tso Kar ('White Lake'), whose intense evaporation leaves white salt efflorescence along its margins.
- High-Altitude Trans-Himalayan Habitat: Located at roughly 4,595 meters above sea level, Tsomoriri is a snowmelt-fed oligotrophic brackish mountain lake and ranks among the highest Ramsar sites globally.
- Black-Necked Crane Breeding Ground: Both Tsomoriri and Tso Kar serve as India's premier breeding grounds for the Near Threatened Black-necked Crane (downlisted by IUCN from Vulnerable in 2020) and bar-headed goose, while their surrounding steppes support the Tibetan wild ass (Kiang), Tibetan wolf, and Vulnerable snow leopard.
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