RAMSAR SITES

Where is the Ramsar Secretariat located?

At the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Gland, Switzerland.

What is the principal decision-making body of the Ramsar Convention?

The Conference of the Contracting Parties.

How often does the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention ordinarily meet?

Once every three years.

What provides the principal regulatory framework for notified wetlands in India?

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Under which Act were the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 framed?

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

How many Ramsar criteria must a wetland satisfy to qualify as a Wetland of International Importance?

At least one of the nine criteria (which include representative, rare, or unique wetland types).

What is India's 100th Ramsar Site, and when was it designated?

Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (also known as Surha Tal) in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh (designated on June 5, 2026).

Which Indian State has the highest number of Ramsar Sites, and how many does it have?

Tamil Nadu, with 20 designated wetlands.

Which Indian State has the second-highest number of Ramsar Sites, and how many does it have?

Uttar Pradesh, with 13 Ramsar Sites.

What is India's largest Ramsar Site?

Sundarban Wetland in West Bengal.

What are India's smallest Ramsar Sites, and what area do they cover?

Renuka Wetland in Himachal Pradesh and Vembannur Wetland Complex in Tamil Nadu (covering approximately 20 hectares each).

Which high-altitude Ramsar Site in Ladakh is located at an elevation of approximately 4,522 metres?

Tso Moriri.

What type of water body is Chilika Lake in Odisha?

A brackish-water lagoon and one of the largest coastal lagoons in the world.

What is Loktak Lake in Manipur famous for?

Its floating masses of vegetation called phumdis.

What is recognized as the world’s only floating national park, and where is it located?

Keibul Lamjao National Park, situated on the phumdis of Loktak Lake in Manipur.

What type of lake is Lonar Lake in Maharashtra, and what are its notable characteristics?

A meteorite-impact crater lake notable for its unusual saline and alkaline characteristics.

What is Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan known for?

It is India's largest inland saline lake and has been a Ramsar Site since 1990.

What distinction does the Vembanad-Kol Wetland in Kerala hold?

It is India's longest lake and the second-largest Ramsar Site in India by designated area.

Which two Indian Ramsar Sites are included in the Montreux Record?

Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan and Loktak Lake in Manipur.

Which cities became India’s first Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities in January 2025?

Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Udaipur in Rajasthan.

Which wetland's designation gave Arunachal Pradesh its first Ramsar Site?

Glaw Lake.

Which Indian States remained without a Ramsar Site as of August 2026?

Telangana, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

What is the local name and type of Glaw Lake?

Glaw Tuwi; a natural freshwater wetland in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Where is Glaw Lake situated within Arunachal Pradesh?

Near Wakro within the Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve.

Which biodiversity hotspot does Glaw Lake form a part of?

The Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.

What is the designated area of the Glaw Lake Ramsar Site?

Approximately 129 hectares.

How is Glaw Lake fed, and what is its water regime?

It is fed by perennial mountain streams and receives water throughout the year.

What hydrological functions does Glaw Lake serve?

It acts as a natural water-storage system, regulates the flow of the Kamlang River, recharges groundwater, and maintains the local freshwater system.

How many tree and orchid species have been recorded within the Glaw Lake Ramsar Site and its catchment?

More than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species.

What ecological role does Glaw Lake play for avian fauna?

It provides habitat and wintering grounds for several species of waterbirds.

How many species of reptiles and amphibians are found within the Glaw Lake ecosystem?

More than 20 species.

Which major feline species are supported by the wider Kamlang landscape?

Tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, and snow leopard.

Which community holds Glaw Lake as culturally and spiritually sacred?

The Mishmi communities of Arunachal Pradesh (their traditional beliefs discourage pollution and harmful exploitation).

Wular Lake

Largest freshwater lake in India and the second-largest freshwater lake in Asia
Situated in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir
Jhelum river

Zaina Lake

An artificial island located in the center of the lake, built in the 15th century by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin

Koleru Lake

one of the largest freshwater lakes in India and the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia
Andhra Pradesh

Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in November 1999 under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

• Designated as a Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance) in November 2002

Pulicat Lake

Pulicat Lake is the second-largest brackish-water lagoon in India

Pangong Tso Lake

a high-altitude endorheic (landlocked) brackish water lake located in eastern Ladakh, India, and extending into Tibet, China

Kanwar Lake

The Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake or Kabartal Wetland located in Begusarai district of Bihar, India, Asia's largest freshwater oxbow lake