Bihar Gets Two New Ramsar Sites, Taking India’s Total to 93
- TPP
- Sep 28
- 5 min read
Bihar adds Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel as Ramsar sites raising its total to five and India’s to 93 covering 1,360,719 hectares.
India has achieved another milestone in its wetland conservation efforts with the addition of two new Ramsar sites from Bihar—Gokul Jalashay (448 hectares) in Buxar district and Udaipur Jheel (319 hectares) in West Champaran district. With these inclusions, Bihar now has five Ramsar sites, while the national tally rises to 93 sites, covering a total of 1,360,719 hectares.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hailed this achievement as a “proud moment for India’s environmental stewardship”. Responding to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s post on X, he wrote:
Wonderful news! Wetlands are vital to sustainable development. A special appreciation to the people of Bihar, who are showing in thought and action how to be at the forefront of environmental conservation.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav also highlighted the achievement with the message:
Shabash Bihar! India strengthens its commitment to wetlands conservation with the addition of two new Ramsar sites from Bihar. This brings the total to 93 Ramsar sites, covering 1,360,719 hectares, underscoring India's resolve to safeguard its rich wetland ecosystems for biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. With PM Modi steering the way, India continues to be the first in Asia and third in the world in terms of total number of Ramsar sites in a country.
The Bihar State Wetland Authority (BSWA) had earlier, in 2023, recommended the inclusion of four wetlands on the Ramsar List: Udaipur Jheel, Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary in Bhagalpur, Gogabeel Lake in Katihar, and Gokul Jalashay. Bihar already had three Ramsar sites: Kabar Jheel (Kabar Taal) in Begusarai (which became India’s 49th Ramsar site in October 2020), Nagi Bird Sanctuary, and Nakti Bird Sanctuary in Jamui district. With the two new additions, Bihar’s Ramsar count rises to five.
The Ramsar Convention and the Global Network
A key commitment of all Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention is to identify and designate suitable wetlands for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List).
In 2005, the Parties confirmed their vision for the Ramsar List as:
To develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits/services.
Today, the Ramsar List is the world’s largest network of protected areas, with over 2,500 Ramsar Sites spread across 173 Contracting Parties, covering more than 2.5 million square kilometres.
The first Ramsar Site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
The largest Ramsar Sites include:
Rio Negro in Brazil – 120,000 sq. km
Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo – over 60,000 sq. km
Queen Maud Gulf in Canada – over 60,000 sq. km
Some Ramsar sites are as small as 1 hectare.
Globally, the United Kingdom leads with 176 Ramsar sites, followed by Mexico with 144. Brazil has the largest area under protection—267,000 sq. km. Other countries with more than 100,000 sq. km designated include Bolivia, Canada, Chad, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Russian Federation.
India’s Commitment and Position
With 93 Ramsar Sites, India is:
1st in Asia in terms of the number of sites
3rd in the world overall
This reflects India’s strong commitment to wetlands conservation, which not only helps protect biodiversity but also builds climate resilience and supports sustainable livelihoods for millions of people.
India’s Ramsar Sites
With the latest inclusions from Bihar, India now has 93 Ramsar Sites across 26 states and union territories. Below is a state-wise summary table listing all Ramsar Sites with their designation dates. This provides a complete picture of India’s wetlands under international protection and showcases the country’s growing leadership in global wetland conservation.
Ramsar Sites in India – State-wise list (93 Ramsar Sites, 1,360,718 hectares)
State / UT | No. of Sites | Ramsar Sites (with designation date) |
Andhra Pradesh | 1 | Kolleru Lake (19/08/2002) |
Assam | 1 | Deepor Beel (19/08/2002) |
Bihar | 5 | Gokul Jalashay (13/05/2025), Kabartal (21/07/2020), Nagi (11/10/2023), Nakti (11/10/2023), Udaipur Jheel (13/05/2025) |
Goa | 1 | Nanda Lake (08/06/2022) |
Gujarat | 4 | Khijadia (13/04/2021), Nalsarovar (24/09/2012), Thol (05/04/2021), Wadhvana (05/04/2021) |
Haryana | 2 | Bhindawas (25/05/2021), Sultanpur (25/05/2021) |
Himachal Pradesh | 3 | Chandertal (08/11/2005), Pong Dam (19/08/2002), Renuka (08/11/2005) |
Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh | 7 | Hokera (08/11/2005), Hygam (08/06/2022), Shallbugh (08/06/2022), Surinsar-Mansar (08/11/2005), Tso Kar (17/11/2020), Tsomoriri (19/08/2002), Wular (23/03/1990) |
Jharkhand | 1 | Udhwa (08/01/2024) |
Karnataka | 4 | Aghanashini (14/02/2023), Ankasamudra (10/03/2023), Magadi Kere (14/02/2023), Ranganathittu (15/02/2022) |
Kerala | 3 | Ashtamudi (19/08/2002), Sasthamkotta (19/08/2002), Vembanad-Kol (19/08/2002) |
Madhya Pradesh | 5 | Bhoj (19/08/2002), Sakhya Sagar (07/01/2022), Sirpur (07/01/2022), Tawa (08/01/2024), Yashwant Sagar (07/01/2022) |
Maharashtra | 3 | Lonar (22/07/2020), Nandur Madhameshwar (21/06/2019), Thane Creek (13/04/2022) |
Manipur | 1 | Loktak (23/03/1990) |
Mizoram | 1 | Pala (31/08/2021) |
Odisha | 6 | Ansupa (12/10/2021), Bhitarkanika (19/08/2002), Chilika (01/10/1981), Hirakud (12/10/2021), Satkosia (12/10/2021), Tampara (12/10/2021) |
Punjab | 6 | Beas (26/09/2019), Harike (23/03/1990), Kanjli (22/01/2002), Keshopur-Miani (26/09/2019), Nangal (26/09/2019), Ropar (22/01/2002) |
Rajasthan | 4 | Keoladeo (01/10/1981), Khichan (19/02/2025), Menar (19/02/2025), Sambhar (23/03/1990) |
Sikkim | 1 | Khachoedpalri (15/07/2024) |
Tamil Nadu | 20 | Chitrangudi (08/11/2021), Gulf of Mannar (08/04/2022), Kanjirankulam (08/04/2022), Karaivetti (24/05/2023), Karikili (08/04/2022), Kazhuveli (16/01/2024), Koonthankulam (08/11/2021), Longwood Shola (24/05/2023), Pallikaranai (08/04/2022), Pichavaram (08/04/2022), Point Calimere (19/08/2002), Sakkarakottai (15/07/2024), Suchindram Theroor (08/04/2022), Therthangal (15/07/2024), Udhayamarthandapuram (08/04/2022), Vaduvur (08/04/2022), Vedanthangal (08/04/2022), Vellode (08/04/2022), Vembannur (08/04/2022) |
Tripura | 1 | Rudrasagar (08/11/2005) |
Uttar Pradesh | 10 | Bakhira (29/06/2021), Haiderpur (13/04/2021), Nawabganj (19/09/2019), Parvati Arga (02/12/2019), Saman (02/12/2019), Samaspur (03/10/2019), Sandi (26/09/2019), Sarsai Nawar (19/09/2019), Sur Sarovar (21/08/2020), Upper Ganga (08/11/2005) |
Uttarakhand | 1 | Asan (21/07/2020) |
West Bengal | 2 | East Calcutta Wetlands (19/08/2002), Sundarban (30/01/2019) |
Source: Ramsar.org
The addition of Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel as Ramsar sites highlights not only Bihar’s but also India’s dedication to wetland conservation. As the country celebrates World Wetlands Day 2025 under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”, India reaffirms its role as a global leader in wetlands protection—1st in Asia and 3rd worldwide.
World Wetlands Day
 The theme highlights the urgent need for collaboration and foresight in valuing and protecting wetlands—among the planet’s most biodiverse and productive ecosystems. Wetlands play a vital role by supporting biodiversity, providing livelihoods, regulating climate, recharging groundwater, and protecting against floods. The call for 2025 is to take inspiring action together to safeguard these ecosystems for the wellbeing of present and future generations. |
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