New Ramsar Sites Added: India's Total Count Reaches 90
India has added five more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites, bringing the total number of wetlands of international importance in the country to 90.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- India's total count of Ramsar sites has reached 90, the highest in South Asia.
- Five new wetlands were added, including two in Tamil Nadu, one in Madhya Pradesh, and two in Odisha.
- The Ramsar Convention, adopted in 1971, aims for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
- Wetlands are crucial for biodiversity, flood control, carbon sequestration, and water purification.
- Designation as a Ramsar site facilitates international funding and technical support for conservation.
- India became a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) oversees wetland management in India.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, govern wetland management in India.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Very High | 12–20 | Environment and Ecology is a separate section in UPSC Prelims. GS-III includes environment, climate change, and disaster management. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | National parks, Ramsar sites, pollution levels, and climate summits appear in SSC GK. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–8 | State PCS papers test both central environment policy and state-specific conservation achievements. |
| Railway (RRB NTPC / Group D) | High | 3–6 | Environment is a reliable Railway GK category — national parks, endangered species, pollution. |
Key Facts to Remember: New Ramsar Sites Added: India's Total Count Reaches 90
- India's total count of Ramsar sites has reached 90, the highest in South Asia.
- Five new wetlands were added, including two in Tamil Nadu, one in Madhya Pradesh, and two in Odisha.
- The Ramsar Convention, adopted in 1971, aims for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
- Wetlands are crucial for biodiversity, flood control, carbon sequestration, and water purification.
- Designation as a Ramsar site facilitates international funding and technical support for conservation.
- India became a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) oversees wetland management in India.
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, govern wetland management in India.
Practice Questions
Q1. How many new wetlands have been added to India's Ramsar site list, bringing the total to 90?
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
Explanation: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the addition of five new wetlands to the Ramsar list. This significant increase has brought India's total number of Ramsar sites to 90.
Q2. Which of the following states has received two new Ramsar site designations in the recent addition?
- Madhya Pradesh and Odisha
- Tamil Nadu and Odisha
- Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh
- Only Odisha
Explanation: Out of the five newly designated Ramsar sites, two are located in Tamil Nadu and two are in Odisha. One new site is in Madhya Pradesh.
Q3. What is the primary objective of the Ramsar Convention?
- To protect migratory birds
- To conserve and sustainably use wetlands
- To manage forest resources
- To combat desertification
Explanation: The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It provides a framework for national action and international cooperation to achieve this goal.
Q4. As of the latest update, what is India's position in South Asia regarding the number of Ramsar sites?
- Second highest
- Third highest
- Fourth highest
- Highest
Explanation: With the addition of five new wetlands, India's total count of Ramsar sites has reached 90. This makes India the country with the highest number of Ramsar sites in the South Asian region.
Q5. Which Indian government ministry is responsible for the designation and management of Ramsar sites?
- Ministry of Jal Shakti
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Explanation: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal ministry in India responsible for overseeing wetland conservation and nominating sites for Ramsar designation.
How to Prepare Environment for Government Exams — New Ramsar Sites Added: India's Total Count Reach…
Ramsar sites and World Heritage Site additions are announced annually. Compile the year's additions — they are direct exam questions.
For UPSC, understand the international treaty context: Paris Agreement, CBD, CITES, Ramsar — know what each treaty does.
Climate news = policy news. Always note the government response to any environmental event — that's what UPSC Mains tests.
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