India has 85 Ramsar Sites (as of early 2026), making it one of the countries with the highest number of designated wetlands of international importance. The Ramsar Convention (formally, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran on February 2, 1971.
For UPSC, Ramsar Sites are among the most frequently tested topics in Environment & Ecology (GS3) and Geography (GS1). New designations are announced periodically, making this a “current affairs + static” topic.
What Is the Ramsar Convention?
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat |
| Signed | February 2, 1971 at Ramsar, Iran |
| Came into force | December 21, 1975 |
| India joined | February 1, 1982 |
| Contracting parties | 172 countries (as of 2025) |
| Total Ramsar Sites globally | ~2,500+ |
| Secretariat | Gland, Switzerland (hosted by IUCN) |
| World Wetlands Day | February 2 (anniversary of the Convention) |
Key Principles
- Wise use: Contracting parties must promote the "wise use" of all wetlands — sustainable utilisation that maintains ecological character
- List of Wetlands of International Importance: Each party must designate at least one wetland for the Ramsar List
- International cooperation: Particularly for transboundary wetlands and shared water systems
India's First Ramsar Sites
India's first two Ramsar Sites were designated on October 1, 1981:
- Chilika Lake (Odisha) — Asia's largest brackish water lagoon
- Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur, Rajasthan) — famous bird sanctuary
State-wise Distribution of Ramsar Sites
India's 85 Ramsar Sites are spread across 22 states and 3 UTs. The states with the most sites:
| State | Number of Ramsar Sites | Notable Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 16 | Vedanthangal, Point Calimere, Karikili |
| UP | 10 | Upper Ganga, Saman, Nawabganj, Haiderpur |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 6 | Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Hokera, Surinsar-Mansar |
| Punjab | 6 | Harike, Kanjli, Ropar, Nangal |
| Madhya Pradesh | 6 | Bhoj Wetland, Yashwant Sagar, Sirpur |
| Odisha | 6 | Chilika, Bhitarkanika, Tampara, Hirakud |
| Rajasthan | 4 | Keoladeo, Sambhar Lake, Keoladeo |
| Kerala | 3 | Vembanad-Kol, Ashtamudi, Sasthamkotta |
| Manipur | 2 | Loktak Lake, Pala |
| Ladakh | 2 | Tsomoriri, Tsokar |
Key UPSC point: Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India. This is a common Prelims question.
Important Ramsar Sites for UPSC
| Site | State | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Largest brackish water lagoon in Asia; Irrawaddy dolphins; bird migration |
| Keoladeo (Bharatpur) | Rajasthan | UNESCO World Heritage Site; Siberian Crane winter habitat |
| Wular Lake | J&K | Largest freshwater lake in India |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur | Floating island (phumdi) ecosystem; Keibul Lamjao NP (floating NP); Sangai deer |
| Vembanad-Kol | Kerala | Largest lake in Kerala; Kumarakom bird sanctuary; backwaters |
| Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | India's largest inland saltwater lake |
| Dal Lake | J&K | Iconic lake of Srinagar; facing eutrophication |
| Harike Wetland | Punjab | Confluence of Sutlej and Beas; head of Indira Gandhi Canal |
| Bhoj Wetland | MP | Upper and Lower lakes of Bhopal |
| Deepor Beel | Assam | Important bird area; near Guwahati |
| East Kolkata Wetlands | West Bengal | World's largest organic sewage treatment system (natural) |
| Tsomoriri | Ladakh | High-altitude lake (4,595m); breeding ground for bar-headed geese |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal | Largest mangrove forest in the world; Royal Bengal Tiger |
| Bhitarkanika | Odisha | Saltwater crocodile; mangroves |
Criteria for Ramsar Designation
A wetland can be designated as a Ramsar Site if it meets at least one of nine criteria:
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type |
| 2 | Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities |
| 3 | Supports populations of plant or animal species important for maintaining biological diversity |
| 4 | Supports plant or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions |
| 5 | Regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds |
| 6 | Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird |
| 7 | Supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish species/subspecies |
| 8 | Important source of food, spawning ground, or migration path for fish |
| 9 | Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species of wetland-dependent non-avian animal |
The Montreux Record
The Montreux Record is a register of Ramsar Sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of human interference. It is a "red flag" list.
Indian sites currently on the Montreux Record:
- Keoladeo Ghana NP (Bharatpur) — placed on the Record due to water scarcity and habitat degradation (has been on and off the list)
- Loktak Lake (Manipur) — pollution, water level fluctuations, phumdi degradation
Previously on the Montreux Record:
- Chilika Lake was on the Montreux Record from 1993 to 2002 — removed after successful restoration (opening of new mouth to the sea, reduced siltation)
Chilika's removal is cited as a successful wetland restoration case study.
Wetland Conservation in India
Legal Framework
| Legislation/Policy | Year | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules | 2017 (amended) | Regulatory framework for wetland conservation; defines prohibited activities |
| National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) | 1985–86 | Identified and conserved wetlands across India |
| National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) | 2013 | Merged NWCP with the National Lake Conservation Plan |
| Environment Protection Act, 1986 | 1986 | Parent legislation for wetland rules |
| Wetland Authority | State-level | Each state must constitute a Wetland Authority under the 2017 Rules |
Threats to Indian Wetlands
- Encroachment: Urban and agricultural encroachment (e.g., Dal Lake shrinkage)
- Pollution: Industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, sewage
- Eutrophication: Excess nutrients causing algal blooms, oxygen depletion
- Siltation: Reduces water-holding capacity
- Invasive species: Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) chokes many Indian wetlands
- Climate change: Altered rainfall patterns, increased evaporation
UPSC Relevance
GS3 (Environment): Ramsar Convention, wetland conservation, biodiversity.
GS1 (Geography): Lakes, drainage, physical features of India.
Key Prelims facts:
- Ramsar Convention: Signed February 2, 1971, Ramsar, Iran
- India joined: 1982
- India's Ramsar Sites: 85 (as of early 2026 — verify latest count)
- First two sites: Chilika Lake + Keoladeo (1981)
- State with most sites: Tamil Nadu
- Largest brackish water lagoon: Chilika (Odisha)
- Largest freshwater lake: Wular (J&K)
- Floating NP: Keibul Lamjao in Loktak Lake (Manipur)
- Montreux Record: Keoladeo and Loktak currently listed
- World Wetlands Day: February 2
- Secretariat: Gland, Switzerland
Tell Google you want more of this.
Add Anantam IAS as a preferred sourceOne tap, and this site shows up more often in your own Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode. Remove it any time.
