India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention (Convention on Wetlands, 1971). As of February 2026, India has 98 Ramsar sites covering approximately 13,60,805 hectares — the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia and 3rd globally (after UK and Mexico). Tamil Nadu has the most Ramsar sites among Indian states (20). Since 2014, 67+ new Ramsar sites have been added. UPSC tests site locations, the waterbodies associated with them, their flagship species, and recent additions (which appear regularly as current affairs questions).

2025–26 additions in order: Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary & Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) + Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim) + Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand) — all four on World Wetlands Day, February 2, 2025 (tally → 89); Khichan (Rajasthan, Phalodi) + Menar (Rajasthan, Udaipur) on World Environment Day, June 4, 2025 (→ 91); Gokul Jalashay (Bihar, Buxar) + Udaipur Jheel (Bihar, West Champaran), September 2025 (→ 93); Gogabeel Lake (Bihar, Katihar), October 30, 2025 (94th); Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan, Alwar) + Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh, near Bilaspur), December 2025 (→ 96); Patna Bird Sanctuary (UP, Etah) + Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat, Kutch), February 2, 2026 (→ 98).

Key / Frequently Tested Ramsar Sites (UPSC Focus)

Ramsar Site State Area (ha) Why Important / UPSC Angle
Chilika Lake Odisha 1,10,000 Largest coastal lagoon in India; largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl on Indian subcontinent; Irrawaddy Dolphin; Nalabana Island (bird sanctuary within it)
Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur) Rajasthan 2,873 UNESCO World Heritage Site; formerly wintered Siberian Cranes; 364+ bird species; man-made wetland (Maharaja of Bharatpur era)
Wular Lake J&K 18,900 Largest freshwater lake in India; Jhelum flows through it; critical for Kashmir ecosystem
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes J&K 350 Twin lakes; pilgrimage significance; Mansar Lake (Nag deity)
Loktak Lake Manipur 26,600 Largest freshwater lake in NE India; phumdis (floating biomass); Keibul Lamjao NP within it
Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh 90,100 Largest freshwater lake in South India; between Godavari and Krishna deltas; Grey Pelican, Painted Stork
Bhitarkanika Mangroves Odisha 65,000 2nd largest mangrove in India; Saltwater Crocodile (largest population in India); Olive Ridley Sea Turtle mass nesting (Gahirmatha beach)
Point Calimere (Kodikkarai) Tamil Nadu 38,500 Blackbuck, Flamingo (largest congregation in India)
Pulicat Lake Tamil Nadu/Andhra Pradesh 16,000 2nd largest brackish water lake in India; trans-boundary; Greater Flamingo breeding
Vembanad Lake Kerala 1,51,250 Largest Ramsar site in India; Kuttanad (below sea-level agriculture); Kumarakom and Pathiramanal bird sanctuary; backwaters
Ashtamudi Lake Kerala 6,140 Cashew-shaped; gateway to Lakshadweep Sea; backwaters tourism
Deepor Beel Assam 4,000 Gauhati's lung; Greater Adjutant Stork; last remaining beel in Brahmaputra valley near Guwahati
Rudrasagar Lake Tripura 2,400 Neermahal (water palace) on it; migratory birds
Harike Wetland Punjab 4,100 Confluence of Sutlej and Beas; wintering birds; Harike Bird Sanctuary
Kanjli Wetland Punjab 183 —
Ropar Wetland Punjab 1,365 Sutlej River; birds
Nalsarovar Gujarat 12,000 Large seasonal lake; Flamingo, Pelican; last vestige of Dhal lake
Thol Lake Gujarat 699 Near Ahmedabad; 320+ bird species; Flamingo
Wadhvana Gujarat 1,609 Near Vadodara; wintering waterfowl; migratory waders
Sambhar Lake Rajasthan 22,750 Largest inland saltwater lake in India; Flamingo mass gathering; common salt production
Pong Dam Lake HP 30,000 Important wintering ground for Bar-headed Goose, Common Crane; Beas River; Ramsar 2002
Renuka Lake Himachal Pradesh 20 Smallest Ramsar site in India (by area); religious importance; Renuka Ji fair
Tsomgo (Changu) Lake Sikkim 78 High-altitude glacial lake; near Nathu La; Bar-headed Goose
Lonar Lake Maharashtra 1,023 Only hyper-saline soda ash lake of meteoric (meteorite crater) origin in India; unique microbial diversity
Nandur Madhmeshwar Maharashtra 1,437 Godavari tributary; heron and stork breeding colony
Asan Wetland Uttarakhand 444 Confluence of Asan and Yamuna rivers; migratory waterfowl
Sur Sarovar (Keetham Lake) Uttar Pradesh 431 Near Agra; Sarus Crane, migratory ducks
Bakhira WLS Uttar Pradesh 2,902 Large waterfowl wintering
Nawabganj Uttar Pradesh 224 —
Karikili Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu 61 Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork; nesting colony
Pallikaranai Marsh Tamil Nadu 127 Chennai's only surviving wetland; coastal marsh; under urban pressure
Pichavaram Tamil Nadu 1,486 2nd largest mangrove in India; between two estuaries; Cuddalore
Vedanthangal Tamil Nadu 74 Oldest bird sanctuary in India (1858); Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork
Bhoj Wetland Madhya Pradesh 3,201 Bhopal Lakes (Upper and Lower); historical dams; migratory birds; drinking water for Bhopal
Sirpur Lake Madhya Pradesh 161 Near Indore; migratory birds

2025–26 New Additions (UPSC Current Affairs — High Priority)

Ramsar Site State Serial No. Date Designated Key Feature
Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu 86th Feb 2, 2025 Ramanathapuram district; 230 ha; Central Asian Flyway; breeding waterbirds
Therthangal Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu 87th Feb 2, 2025 Ramanathapuram district; Central Asian Flyway; Tamil Nadu's 19th & 20th Ramsar sites together with Sakkarakottai
Khecheopalri Wetland Sikkim 88th Feb 2, 2025 West Sikkim; altitude 1,700 m; Sikkim's first Ramsar site; sacred lake
Udhwa Lake Jharkhand 89th Feb 2, 2025 Sahibganj district; Ganga floodplain; two interconnected water bodies (Patauda & Berhale); Jharkhand's first Ramsar site
Khichan Rajasthan 90th Jun 4, 2025 Phalodi, Jodhpur division; famous for Demoiselle Crane (Kurja) winter congregation
Menar Rajasthan 91st Jun 4, 2025 Udaipur district; important for migratory waterbirds; designated on World Environment Day
Gokul Jalashay Bihar 92nd Sep 2025 Buxar district
Udaipur Jheel Bihar 93rd Sep 2025 West Champaran district
Gogabeel Lake Bihar 94th Oct 30, 2025 Katihar district; ox-bow lake on Ganga-Mahananda confluence; Common Pochard (vulnerable); Bihar's first Community Reserve (2019)
Siliserh Lake Rajasthan 95th Dec 2025 Alwar district
Kopra Jalashay Chhattisgarh 96th Dec 2025 Near Bilaspur
Patna Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh 97th Feb 2, 2026 Etah district; designated on World Wetlands Day 2026
Chhari-Dhand Gujarat 98th Feb 2, 2026 Kutch district; designated on World Wetlands Day 2026

Note: The "Key / Frequently Tested" table above covers a curated selection of historically important sites. India's total currently stands at 98 sites (February 2026). For the complete official list, refer to moef.gov.in or indianwetlands.in.

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