The Ramsar count changes several times a year, so it is a favourite “latest number” question. As of October 2026, India has 103 Ramsar sites. Learn the count, the newest additions, the firsts and a short list of famous wetlands.
The Ramsar Convention
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Signed | 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran |
| World Wetlands Day | 2 February |
| India joined | 1 February 1982 |
| Purpose | Conservation and wise use of wetlands |
| India’s law | Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 |
India’s Ramsar network (2026)
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total sites | 103 (October 2026) |
| Area | More than 13.8 lakh hectares (approx) |
| State with most sites | Tamil Nadu (20) |
| Second | Uttar Pradesh (14) |
| First sites (1981) | Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) |
| Largest site | Sundarban Wetland (West Bengal) |
Latest additions
| Site | State | Added |
|---|---|---|
| Sukhna Wetland | Chandigarh | October 2026 |
| Sauj Jheel | Uttar Pradesh | October 2026 |
| Patna Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh (Etah) | February 2026 |
| Chhari Dhand | Gujarat (Kutch) | February 2026 |
Famous Ramsar sites to remember
| Wetland | State | Why it is famous |
|---|---|---|
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Largest brackish water lagoon in India; Irrawaddy dolphins |
| Keoladeo | Rajasthan | Bird sanctuary; also a World Heritage Site |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur | Floating phumdis; Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park |
| Wular Lake | J&K | Largest freshwater lake in India |
| Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | Largest inland saline lake |
| Vembanad-Kol | Kerala | Longest lake in India |
| Tso Moriri | Ladakh | High-altitude lake |
| Harike | Punjab | Confluence of Beas and Sutlej |
| Kolleru | Andhra Pradesh | Between the Krishna and Godavari deltas |
| Deepor Beel | Assam | Near Guwahati |
| Bhitarkanika | Odisha | Mangroves; saltwater crocodiles |
| Lonar Lake | Maharashtra | Meteorite impact crater lake |
Montreux Record
- A list of Ramsar sites whose ecology is under threat.
- Indian sites on it: Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake.
- Chilika was placed on it in 1993 and removed in 2002 after restoration.
Exam-ready one-liners
- India has 103 Ramsar sites (October 2026).
- Tamil Nadu has the most (20), followed by Uttar Pradesh (14).
- Chilika and Keoladeo were India’s first Ramsar sites (1981).
- The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.
- Keoladeo and Loktak are on the Montreux Record.
Related reading
Quiz: test yourself
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Counts as reported in October 2026. Check the Ramsar Sites Information Service for the latest list.
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