"New Ramsar Sites in India: January to June 2026"
Ramsar site questions follow a fixed pattern in UPSC Prelims: match the site to its state, identify its key feature (mangrove, oxbow lake, high-altitude wetland), or answer a statement-based question that mixes up locations. This guide covers every new site added between January and June 2026.
The four new sites
| Site | State | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Pichavaram Mangrove Forest | Tamil Nadu | One of the largest mangrove ecosystems in India outside the Sundarbans. Home to 177 bird species. Second Ramsar site in Tamil Nadu after Point Calimere |
| Ansupa Lake | Odisha | An oxbow lake formed by the Mahanadi river. Largest freshwater lake in Odisha. Habitat for northern pintail and garganey |
| Hirakud Reservoir | Odisha | A man-made reservoir behind the Hirakud Dam — the longest earthen dam in the world (25.8 km). Wintering ground for over 100,000 waterbirds |
| Tso Kar Basin | Ladakh | A high-altitude wetland complex at 4,530 metres. Includes Tso Kar (salt lake) and Startsapuk Tso (freshwater). Breeding ground for the black-necked crane (Vulnerable). Habitat for the Tibetan wild ass (Kiang) |
The Ramsar addition strategy
India has added Ramsar sites aggressively since 2014: from 26 sites to 87. The Environment Ministry has a dedicated wetland cell that works with state governments to identify and nominate sites. Sites are typically designated in clusters on World Wetlands Day (February 2) and World Environment Day (June 5). In 2026, a third cluster was added on the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22).
Prelims traps
| Statement | True or False |
|---|---|
| "Pichavaram is India's first Ramsar site in Tamil Nadu" | False. Point Calimere was first |
| "Ansupa Lake is a natural lake in Odisha" | True, but note: Hirakud Reservoir in the same batch is man-made. UPSC will mix them |
| "Hirakud Dam is on the Godavari river" | False. It is on the Mahanadi |
| "Tso Kar is a freshwater lake" | Partially false. Tso Kar is a salt lake. Startsapuk Tso, in the same complex, is freshwater |
Part of: Species in News and Protected Areas: January to June 2026
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Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Ramsar Convention Secretariat.