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India has 107 National Parks (as of early 2026) covering approximately 44,378 sq km — about 1.35% of the country's geographical area. National Parks are the highest level of protection under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and form the backbone of India's biodiversity conservation framework.
For UPSC, National Parks are among the most frequently tested Environment topics — questions cover total count, state-wise distribution, location of specific parks, and recent additions.
What Is a National Park?
Under Section 35 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, a National Park is an area declared by the State Government for the protection and propagation of wildlife, with the following characteristics:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Authority | Declared by State Government (with Central guidance) |
| Restrictions | Highest level of protection — no human activity allowed except for management and ecotourism |
| Land use | No grazing, no settlement, no commercial extraction |
| Hunting | Strictly prohibited |
| Boundary | Demarcated and notified |
| Buffer zone | May have surrounding sanctuary or buffer area |
| Tourism | Permitted under regulation |
National Parks differ from Wildlife Sanctuaries — sanctuaries allow limited human activities like grazing and cattle movement, while NPs do not.
India's First National Park: Jim Corbett
The first National Park in India was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park (named after Sir Malcolm Hailey, then Governor of UP). It was renamed:
- Ramganga National Park (after independence)
- Jim Corbett National Park (in 1957, after the famous hunter-conservationist)
Located in Uttarakhand, Corbett spans approximately 1,318 sq km and is famous for its Bengal tigers.
State-wise Distribution
National Parks are distributed across all states and most UTs. The states with the most:
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| State | Number of NPs | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | 11 | Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura |
| Andaman & Nicobar (UT) | 9 | Mahatma Gandhi Marine, Campbell Bay |
| Maharashtra | 6 | Sanjay Gandhi, Tadoba, Gugamal |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 3 | Namdapha, Mouling |
| Tamil Nadu | 5 | Mudumalai, Anamalai (Indira Gandhi), Mukurthi |
| Karnataka | 5 | Bandipur, Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi), Bannerghatta |
| Assam | 7 | Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Dibru-Saikhowa |
| Uttarakhand | 6 | Jim Corbett, Rajaji, Valley of Flowers, Nanda Devi |
| Rajasthan | 5 | Ranthambore, Sariska, Keoladeo, Desert |
| Kerala | 6 | Periyar, Eravikulam, Silent Valley |
Key UPSC point: Madhya Pradesh has the most National Parks (11).
Notable National Parks: Region-wise
Northern India
| Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Corbett NP | Uttarakhand | India's first NP; Bengal tigers |
| Rajaji NP | Uttarakhand | Asian elephants |
| Hemis NP | Ladakh | Snow leopard; largest NP in India by area (3,350 sq km) |
| Nanda Devi NP | Uttarakhand | UNESCO World Heritage Site (with Valley of Flowers) |
| Valley of Flowers NP | Uttarakhand | Alpine flowers; UNESCO Heritage |
| Govind Pashu Vihar NP | Uttarakhand | Western Himalayan species |
Hemis National Park (Ladakh) is the largest National Park in India by area — covering about 3,350 sq km in the Trans-Himalayan region. It is the best place to see snow leopards in India.
Central India
| Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Kanha NP | Madhya Pradesh | Inspired Kipling's "Jungle Book"; Royal Bengal tigers; barasingha (swamp deer) |
| Bandhavgarh NP | Madhya Pradesh | Highest density of tigers in India |
| Pench NP | Madhya Pradesh/Maharashtra | Inspired "Jungle Book"; tigers |
| Satpura NP | Madhya Pradesh | Tigers, leopards, sloth bears |
| Panna NP | Madhya Pradesh | Tigers (reintroduced after extinction) |
Western India
| Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Gir NP | Gujarat | Only place with Asiatic Lions in the wild |
| Sasan Gir | Gujarat | Same as Gir; sole Asiatic lion habitat |
| Sanjay Gandhi NP | Maharashtra | Located within Mumbai; leopards |
| Tadoba-Andhari NP | Maharashtra | Tigers; one of India's oldest tiger reserves |
| Ranthambore NP | Rajasthan | Tigers; Ranthambore Fort within the park |
| Sariska NP | Rajasthan | Tigers (reintroduced); experiment in rewilding |
| Desert NP | Rajasthan | Great Indian Bustard; Thar Desert ecosystem |
Gir National Park is the ONLY place in the world where wild Asiatic lions exist. Their population has grown from ~20 in the early 1900s to over 600 in 2024.
Southern India
| Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Bandipur NP | Karnataka | Tigers, elephants; part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Nagarhole NP | Karnataka | Tigers, elephants |
| Periyar NP | Kerala | Tigers, elephants; Periyar Lake |
| Eravikulam NP | Kerala | Nilgiri tahr; Anamudi peak (highest in South India) |
| Silent Valley NP | Kerala | Tropical evergreen forest; Lion-tailed macaque |
| Mudumalai NP | Tamil Nadu | Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Mukurthi NP | Tamil Nadu | Nilgiri tahr; alpine grasslands |
Eastern India
| Park | State | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Sundarbans NP | West Bengal | Largest mangrove forest in the world; Royal Bengal Tigers; UNESCO Heritage |
| Bhitarkanika NP | Odisha | Mangroves; saltwater crocodiles |
| Simlipal NP | Odisha | Tigers, elephants; biosphere reserve |
| Manas NP | Assam | Tigers, elephants; UNESCO Heritage |
| Kaziranga NP | Assam | One-horned rhinoceros; UNESCO Heritage |
| Namdapha NP | Arunachal Pradesh | Snow leopard, clouded leopard, common leopard, leopard cat — only park with all 4 big cats |
| Dibru-Saikhowa NP | Assam | Feral horses; biosphere reserve |
| Keibul Lamjao NP | Manipur | Only floating NP in the world (in Loktak Lake); Sangai (brow-antlered deer) |
Kaziranga hosts approximately two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceros population.
Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest — straddling India and Bangladesh.
Keibul Lamjao is unique — it floats on phumdis (floating mats of vegetation) in Loktak Lake.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
| Park | UT | Famous For |
|---|---|---|
| Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP | A&N | Coral reefs; marine life |
| Campbell Bay NP | A&N | Tropical evergreen forest |
| Saddle Peak NP | A&N | Highest point in the islands |
Largest and Smallest National Parks
| Category | Park | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Largest by area | Hemis NP, Ladakh | ~3,350 sq km |
| Smallest by area | South Button Island NP, A&N | ~0.03 sq km |
| Largest by area in mainland India | Desert NP, Rajasthan | ~3,162 sq km |
| Largest mangrove NP | Sundarbans NP, West Bengal | ~1,330 sq km |
National Parks vs. Other Protected Areas
India has multiple categories of protected areas:
| Category | Number | Protection Level |
|---|---|---|
| National Parks | 107 | Highest |
| Wildlife Sanctuaries | 567+ | High; some human activity allowed |
| Conservation Reserves | 130+ | Buffer/connectivity protection |
| Community Reserves | 220+ | Community-managed protection |
| Tiger Reserves | 55+ | Special protection under Project Tiger |
| Biosphere Reserves | 18 | Multi-zonal conservation (12 in UNESCO Network) |
Note: A National Park may also be a Tiger Reserve and part of a Biosphere Reserve.
Project Tiger and Tiger Reserves
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 by the Government of India under PM Indira Gandhi to save the Bengal tiger. As of 2024, India has 55 Tiger Reserves.
Selected major Tiger Reserves:
- Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand) — first Tiger Reserve
- Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench (MP)
- Bandipur, Nagarhole (Karnataka)
- Tadoba (Maharashtra)
- Ranthambore (Rajasthan)
- Sundarbans (WB)
- Periyar (Kerala)
Tiger population (latest All India Tiger Estimation 2022): ~3,682 — India hosts approximately 70% of the world's wild tiger population.
UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites Among NPs
Indian National Parks that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Kaziranga NP (Assam)
- Manas NP (Assam)
- Sundarbans NP (West Bengal)
- Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers NPs (Uttarakhand)
- Western Ghats (covers multiple parks)
Recent Developments
- 107 NPs as of early 2026 (the count has been growing as new parks are notified)
- Several states have proposed new NPs
- The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 has changed some procedures for diversion of forest land, affecting NP buffer areas
UPSC Relevance
GS3 (Environment): Conservation policy, biodiversity, Wild Life Protection Act.
GS1 (Geography): Indian biogeography, species distribution.
Key Prelims facts:
- Total National Parks: 107 (as of 2026 — verify current count)
- First NP: Jim Corbett (1936, then Hailey)
- Largest NP: Hemis (Ladakh, ~3,350 sq km)
- State with most NPs: Madhya Pradesh (11)
- Asiatic lions: ONLY in Gir NP (Gujarat)
- One-horned rhino: Kaziranga NP (Assam) — 2/3 of world population
- Largest mangrove NP: Sundarbans (West Bengal)
- Floating NP: Keibul Lamjao (Loktak Lake, Manipur)
- Statutory basis: Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Section 35
- UNESCO Heritage: Kaziranga, Manas, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi/Valley of Flowers, Western Ghats
- Project Tiger: Launched 1973
- Tiger reserves: 55+ (as of 2024)
- All India Tiger Estimation 2022: 3,682 tigers
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