What is Ramsar Convention?
Signed in Ramsar, Iran 1971. International treaty for conservation and wise use of wetlands. Came into force in India on 1 Feb 1982.
India's Global Rank
3rd globally with 99 sites, after UK and Mexico. 1st in Asia. Covers ~1.5% of India's total land area.
Largest & Smallest
Largest: Sundarban Wetland WB - 4,230 sq.km
Smallest: Renuka Lake HP - 0.2 sq.km
Oldest Sites
1981: Chilika Lake OR & Keoladeo National Park RJ. India's first Ramsar sites.
Latest Additions 2026
99th: Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary UP, April 2026
98th: Patna Bird Sanctuary UP, Jan 2026
97th: Chhari-Dhand GJ, Jan 2026
Top States
1. Tamil Nadu - 20 sites
2. Uttar Pradesh - 12 sites
3. Bihar, Odisha, Punjab - 6 sites each
Montreux Record
Sites where ecological character changed due to human interference: Keoladeo National Park RJ & Loktak Lake MN
States with No Ramsar Sites
Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Delhi, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, DNHDD, Lakshadweep
Growth Since 2014
India had only 26 sites in 2014. Added 73 sites in last 12 years — fastest expansion globally.