Ramsar Sites in India Reach 103: Sukhna and Sauj Jheel Added
Why in the news
A PIB backgrounder released on 25 October 2026 said India had 103 Ramsar Sites as of 15 October 2026, almost four times the 26 sites it had in 2014.
Key facts
- Total: 103 sites covering over 13.87 lakh hectares in 28 States and UTs.
- Ranking: India is first in Asia and third in the world by number of sites.
- Latest additions: Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh, a reservoir built in 1958 at the Shivalik foothills, and Sauj Jheel in Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh, which hosts over 30,000 waterbirds.
- Milestones: Surha Tal (UP) became the 100th site in June 2026 and Glaw Lake (Arunachal Pradesh) the 101st in August 2026.
- Largest: Sundarban Wetland, West Bengal, at 4,23,000 hectares.
- First sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), dated 1 October 1981.
| State | Ramsar sites |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 20 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 14 |
About the Ramsar Convention
The convention on wetlands was adopted at Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971 and came into force in 1975. It has 172 Contracting Parties and over 2,536 sites worldwide. India joined on 1 February 1982. A wetland must meet at least one of nine criteria to be listed. In India, wetlands are protected under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). Indore and Udaipur became India’s first accredited Wetland Cities in January 2025.
Exam angle
- Count: 103 sites (15 October 2026); 26 in 2014.
- Top states: Tamil Nadu (20), Uttar Pradesh (14).
- Newest: Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel; 100th: Surha Tal.