Surha Tal Becomes India’s 100th Ramsar Site
Why in the news
India crossed the 100-site mark under the Ramsar Convention when Surha Tal got international wetland status on World Environment Day, 5 June 2026.
Key facts
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) |
| District and state | Ballia, Uttar Pradesh |
| Wetland type | Freshwater, in the middle stretch of the Ganga basin |
| India’s tally | 100th Ramsar Site |
| UP’s tally | 13th Ramsar Site |
| Date | 5 June 2026 (World Environment Day) |
About Surha Tal
- Named after freedom fighter and social reformer Jai Prakash Narayan.
- Valued as habitat for migratory and resident wetland birds.
- Already a state-protected wildlife sanctuary before the Ramsar listing.
About the Ramsar Convention
- International treaty on wetlands signed in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; in force from 1975; described as the first modern global environmental treaty.
- Gives a framework for conservation and wise use of wetlands.
- India became a party on 1 February 1982.
- Covers lakes, rivers, marshes, peatlands, mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries and human-made wetlands such as reservoirs and rice paddies.
India’s Ramsar sites
- First two sites, designated in 1981: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).
- State with most sites: Tamil Nadu, then Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab.
- Other notable wetlands: Sundarbans, Kolleru, Wular, Loktak and Sambhar.
World Environment Day
- Held each year on 5 June since 1973, set up by the UN General Assembly in 1972 after the Stockholm Conference.
- Coordinated by UNEP, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
Exam angle
- Count: 100 Ramsar Sites in India; UP has 13.
- Ramsar Convention: 1971 signed, 1975 in force, India party from 1982.
- Terms: wetland, Ramsar Site, bird sanctuary, Ganga basin.