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Legal Framework — National Parks under WPA 1972
Section 35 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 · IUCN Category II · Strictest protection in India’s PA network
National Parks — Key Legal Facts
- Legal authority: Declared under Section 35 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 | Both Central and State Governments can declare National Parks
- IUCN classification: IUCN Category II Protected Areas — managed primarily for ecosystem conservation
- Managing authority: Chief Wildlife Warden of the state controls, manages, and maintains all National Parks | Governed by MoEFCC at national level
- Boundary change: NP boundaries CANNOT be altered without approval of the State Legislature — much stricter than Wildlife Sanctuaries (which only require State Government order)
- Downgrading prohibited: A National Park CANNOT be downgraded to a Wildlife Sanctuary — the reverse (Sanctuary → NP) is possible but boundary reduction requires legislative approval
- Human activities: STRICTLY PROHIBITED — no hunting, poaching, cultivation, grazing, or any form of resource extraction. Unlike sanctuaries, private lands within the notified area must be acquired by the government.
- Entry: Visitors allowed only under a permit from the Chief Wildlife Warden. Scientific research and eco-tourism permitted under regulated conditions.
- Declaration process: State government identifies area → Issues draft notification (gazette under Section 35) with proposed boundaries → Public consultation → Settlement of rights of local communities (under FRA 2006) → Final notification under Section 35(4) → Area becomes permanent NP.
Protected Area Network — Comparison Table
| Feature | National Park (NP) | Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) | Conservation Reserve | Community Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Declared by | Centre or State Govt | State Govt only | State Govt | State Govt |
| Strictness | Highest (strictest) | High (some activities allowed) | Moderate | Community-managed |
| Human activity | Strictly prohibited | Some grazing/non-harmful activities allowed with CWW permission | Regulated, some human use | Community decides |
| Private land | Must be acquired (no private ownership) | Private land can exist inside | May include private land | Usually community/private land |
| Boundary change | Requires State Legislature approval | State Govt order sufficient | State Govt order | State Govt order |
| IUCN Category | Category II | Category IV | Category V or VI | Category VI |
| India count (2025) | 107 | 575+ | 100+ | 220+ |
| Examples | Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir | Keoladeo (now NP), Chilika (Odisha) | Nagi-Nakti (Bihar) | Bhoj Wetland (MP) |
🔴 Latest National Parks — 2024–2025 Current Affairs Latest
- 107th National Park — Similipal (Odisha): Officially notified in April 2025 by the Odisha government. Located in Mayurbhanj district. Part of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009). Was first proposed as a National Park in 1980 — took 45 years to get official NP status! Area: ~845 sq km (core) | Tiger Reserve since 1973 | Famous for tigers, elephants, and orchid diversity | Odisha now has 2 National Parks: Similipal + Bhitarkanika.
- Sikhna Jwhwlao NP (Assam): Officially notified by Assam government on February 16, 2025. Located within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) — 3rd National Park in BTR and 8th NP in Assam (the state with the most NPs nationally). Assam’s 8 NPs: Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, Nameri, Dibru-Saikhowa, Raimona, Dihing Patkai, Sikhna Jwhwlao.
- 106th NP — Navegaon-Nagzira (Maharashtra): Declared in 2023 — made Maharashtra’s 7th NP. Adjoins the existing Navegaon National Park.
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National Parks — Key Superlatives & Unique Records
Most frequently tested in UPSC Prelims — learn these cold
Largest NP
Hemis NP
Ladakh (J&K) | ~4,400 sq km | Highest altitude NP in India (3,300–6,000m) | Snow Leopard country | Trans-Himalayan cold desert ecosystem | Located in Indus Valley | Also has Buddhist monastery — Hemis Gompa inside.
Smallest NP
South Button Island NP
Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Only ~5 sq km | Despite tiny size — rich coral reef ecosystem and marine biodiversity. Remote, uninhabited. Part of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands’ unique island biodiversity.
Oldest / First NP
Jim Corbett NP
Uttarakhand | Est. 1936 as Hailey NP (named after Sir Malcolm Hailey, then-Governor) | Renamed Ramganga NP in 1954, Jim Corbett NP in 1957 | First Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger 1973 | Named after Jim Corbett — hunter turned conservationist.
First Marine NP
Gulf of Kutch Marine NP
Gujarat | Established 1982 | India’s first Marine National Park | Coral reefs, mangroves, intertidal zones | Critically important for dugong, sea turtle, flamingo habitat in Rann of Kutch area.
Only Floating NP
Keibul Lamjao NP
Bishnupur, Manipur | World’s only floating national park | Floats on phumdis (floating organic mats) of Loktak Lake | Established 1977 specifically to protect the Sangai (Eld’s Deer — EN) | Loktak Lake = Ramsar site | Park moves with water level changes.
2nd Largest in India
Desert NP
Jaisalmer + Barmer districts, Rajasthan | ~3,162 sq km | Spread over TWO districts | Habitat of Great Indian Bustard (CR) | No human habitation inside | Fossils, sand dunes, rocky terrain | UPSC 2020 question tested this park.
More Special Distinctions — UPSC High-Frequency
Special National Parks — Must Know for UPSC
- Only NP with a lighthouse: Pirotan Island (Gulf of Kutch Marine NP, Gujarat)
- Highest tiger density: Jim Corbett NP (Uttarakhand) — also Bandipur TR (Karnataka) has very high tiger density
- Highest tiger density in reserve area: Bandhavgarh NP (MP) — historically highest tiger density of any NP (was ~21 tigers per 100 sq km)
- Only NP with Asiatic Lions: Gir National Park (Gujarat) — world’s ONLY natural habitat of Asiatic Lions
- Only mangrove NP (world’s largest mangrove): Sundarbans NP (West Bengal) — UNESCO WHC, Ramsar, Biosphere Reserve
- Highest rhino density: Kaziranga NP (Assam) — 70%+ of world’s one-horned rhinos
- Only NP in J&K for snow leopard protection: Dachigam NP (Srinagar) — last stronghold of Hangul/Kashmir Stag
- State with most National Parks: Assam (8 NPs: Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, Nameri, Dibru-Saikhowa, Raimona, Dihing Patkai, Sikhna Jwhwlao)
- State with most tiger reserves: Madhya Pradesh (7+ TRs) — also called “Tiger State of India”
- First NP in India (historical): Kaziranga was declared a reserve forest in 1905 — but Jim Corbett (1936) was first formal NP
- Jungle Book inspiration: Kanha National Park (MP) — Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book inspired by the forests of Kanha and Pench area
- White Tiger origin: Bandhavgarh NP (MP) — historically the origin of white tiger lineage (all captive white tigers descended from Mohan, captured from Rewa 1951)
- Orchid paradise: Similipal NP (Odisha, 107th NP 2025) — known for orchid diversity and Similipal Biosphere Reserve
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UNESCO World Heritage Site National Parks
India has 9 NP-related UNESCO WHC designations — critical for UPSC Prelims
| UNESCO WHC (National Park) | State / Location | Year | Key Feature / Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaziranga National Park | Assam | 1985 | 70%+ of world’s one-horned rhinos · “Big Five” (Rhino, Tiger, Elephant, Wild Buffalo, Swamp Deer) · 480+ bird species |
| Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (incl. NP) | Assam | 1985 | Pygmy Hog (CR) · Golden Langur · Wild Water Buffalo · Tiger · Trans-boundary with Bhutan (Royal Manas NP) · Also Tiger Reserve + Biosphere Reserve |
| Keoladeo Ghana NP (Bharatpur) | Rajasthan | 1985 | World’s finest bird habitat · Winter home of Siberian/Demoiselle cranes · 370+ bird species · Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary |
| Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | 1987 | World’s largest mangrove forest · Royal Bengal Tiger (salt-adapted, only population) · Saltwater crocodile · Irrawaddy dolphin |
| Nanda Devi National Park | Uttarakhand | 1988 | High Himalayan ecosystem · Snow Leopard · Himalayan Brown Bear · Core of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve · Extends to Valley of Flowers |
| Valley of Flowers NP | Uttarakhand | 1988 (extended 2005) | Alpine floral valley · 300+ wildflower species · Himalayan blue poppy · Brahma Kamal (Uttarakhand state flower) · UNESCO extension of Nanda Devi WHC |
| Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | 2014 | Western Himalayan biodiversity · Snow Leopard, Western Tragopan, Himalayan Tahr · 375 fauna species, 25 forest types · Kullu district |
| Khangchendzonga NP | Sikkim | 2016 | India’s first “mixed” WHC (natural + cultural) · High altitude — includes Mt Khangchendzonga (3rd highest peak) · Red Panda · Snow Leopard · Sacred to Sikkimese |
| Western Ghats cluster (multiple NPs + WLS) | 6 states (Kerala, TN, Karnataka, Goa, MH, AP) | 2012 | Purple Frog, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, 5,000+ plant species | Includes Periyar NP, Silent Valley NP, Mudumalai NP, Shola forests, etc. |
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Key National Park Profiles — In Depth
The most UPSC-tested parks — know every detail about these 10
Jim Corbett National Park
Tiger ReserveUNESCO biosphere adj.
🕰️ History
- 1936: Established as Hailey NP (named after Sir Malcolm Hailey, Governor of UP). India’s first National Park.
- 1954: Renamed Ramganga NP
- 1957: Renamed Jim Corbett NP — after Jim Corbett (famous hunter-turned-conservationist who hunted man-eaters but later championed conservation)
- 1973: First Tiger Reserve declared under Project Tiger (PM Indira Gandhi)
- River: Ramganga River flows through the park
🦅 Key Species
- Bengal Tiger: 231 tigers (highest in any single reserve, 2022) | Tiger density: 14/100 sq km
- Asian Elephant | Indian Leopard | Gharial | Mugger Crocodile
- 600+ bird species (among India’s highest) — good for birdwatching
- Ramganga fish diversity — Mahseer (endangered)
Kaziranga National Park
UNESCO WHC 1985Tiger ReserveRamsar Site
🦏 Key Facts
- “Big Five of Kaziranga”: One-horned Rhino (2,600+ — 70% of world population) | Royal Bengal Tiger | Asian Elephant (1,940) | Wild Water Buffalo (1,666) | Eastern Swamp Deer (468)
- 3rd highest tiger density in India | 100 tigers per 2022 census
- River: Brahmaputra floodplain — annual floods bring nutrients, drive ecosystem
- 480+ bird species including Lesser White-fronted Goose, White-bellied Heron
🌿 Ecosystem
- Tall elephant grasslands + tropical moist deciduous forest + wetlands
- Annual floods from Brahmaputra = ecological keystone event | Floods create islands (chars) where wildlife shelters on NH-37 (threat)
- Hoolock Gibbon (India’s only ape) present
- Also has Gangetic Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphin in river sections
Sundarbans National Park
UNESCO WHC 1987Ramsar SiteBiosphere Reserve
🌴 Unique Features
- World’s largest mangrove forest (~10,000 sq km total; India: ~4,000 sq km + Bangladesh ~6,000 sq km)
- Only salt-water-adapted tigers in the world — “mangrove tigers” or “swamp tigers”. Swim between islands. Adapted to tidal salinity.
- Shared with Bangladesh — transboundary conservation
- Natural shield from cyclones (Amphan 2020 — Sundarbans absorbed shock)
🐅 Species
- Royal Bengal Tiger (101 individuals, 2022 census)
- Saltwater Crocodile | Irrawaddy Dolphin | Gangetic Dolphin
- Olive Ridley Turtle | King Cobra (world’s longest venomous snake)
- Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (ancient “living fossil”, blue blood)
- Spotted Deer | Rhesus Macaque | Monitor Lizard
Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary
Only Lion Habitat
🦁 Asiatic Lion — Key Facts
- World’s ONLY wild population of Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica)
- Population 2025: ~891 lions (2025 census, largest to date) | Recovery from <200 in early 1900s — one of conservation’s great stories
- Asiatic lions slightly smaller than African, distinct belly fold + larger tail tuft
- Threats: Open irrigation wells (drowning), illegal electric fencing, disease vulnerability (single-population risk)
🌿 Ecosystem
- Tropical dry deciduous forest — Teak, Dhak, Tendu, Flame of Forest
- Other species: Indian Leopard, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Indian Python, Indian Eagle Owl
- Maldhari (pastoral community) traditionally lived inside — have been relocated with compensation over decades
- Second home debate: SC order to move lions to Kuno NP (MP) for safety — Gujarat state opposed, still unresolved as of 2025
Kanha National Park
Tiger Reserve
🦌 Barasingha (Swamp Deer) Capital
- Kanha is the last stronghold of the hard-ground Barasingha (Cervus duvaucelii branderi) — MP State animal. Unlike other Barasingha subspecies that prefer swamps, Kanha’s Barasingha adapted to hard, dry ground — hence “hard-ground barasingha.” Nearly extinct by 1970s, Kanha’s Project Barasingha brought recovery to 500+.
- Distinguished from Sangai: Sangai = Eld’s Deer (Manipur); Barasingha = Swamp Deer (Kanha, MP) | Classic UPSC confusion
🎪 Other Key Facts
- Jungle Book: Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book (Mowgli’s story) inspired by the forests of this Kanha-Pench region of Central India
- Bengal Tiger (105, 2022) | Indian Leopard | Gaur (Indian Bison) | Indian Wild Dog (Dhole)
- 250+ bird species | Barasingha conservation key case study in WPA
Manas National Park
UNESCO WHC 1985Tiger ReserveBiosphere ReserveRamsar Site
🐗 Key Species
- Pygmy Hog (CR): World’s smallest pig — Manas NP and Nameri TR are the ONLY sites. Manas is the Pygmy Hog’s most important wild habitat.
- Golden Langur (EN): One of India’s rarest primates — found only in W. Assam and Bhutan. Sacred to some communities.
- Wild Water Buffalo (pure wild stock) | Bengal Tiger | Assam Roofed Turtle | Bengal Florican
🌍 Unique Status
- Transboundary park — connects to Royal Manas National Park (Bhutan)
- UNESCO WHC “in danger” listed 1992-2011 due to ethnic violence and insurgency — restored 2011
- Manas River (Himalayan river) flows through the park — scenic river rafting in buffer zone
- Part of the new Bodoland Territorial Region conservation corridor
Ranthambore National Park
Tiger Reserve (1973)
🐯 “India’s Best for Tiger Sightings”
- Famous for daytime tiger activity — tigers frequently spotted near water bodies in heat
- Ranthambore Fort (10th-century Rajput fort) inside the park — tigers photographed near fort ruins
- Machli (“Lady of the Lakes”) — India’s most famous tigress, died 2016 at 19 years
- ~97 tigers (2022 census) | Third TR to be included in Project Tiger (1973)
🦌 Key Species & Habitat
- Leopard | Sloth Bear | Marsh Crocodile | Sambar | Spotted Deer | Indian Gazelle (Chinkara)
- 300+ bird species | Painted Storks at Rajbagh Lake
- Semi-arid dry deciduous forest — Dhok trees (dominant), Banyan
- Lakes: Padam Talao, Rajbagh Talao, Malik Talao — tiger magnets
Silent Valley National Park
UNESCO WHC (W. Ghats 2012)Biosphere Reserve
🌿 Conservation Milestone
- Saved by India’s first major conservation movement — Save Silent Valley Movement (1970s–1984). Government planned a hydroelectric dam on the Kuntipuzha River that would have flooded the valley. Massive people’s movement led by naturalists, scientists, and the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (science movement) stopped the dam. PM Indira Gandhi halted the project in 1983.
- One of India’s best-preserved tropical evergreen rainforests — continuous canopy, no human habitation ever
🐒 Key Species
- Lion-tailed Macaque (EN) — globally important population
- Tiger | Leopard | Nilgiri Tahr | Gaur | Nilgiri Langur
- 900+ flowering plant species | Dense shola forests
- Name “Silent Valley” comes from absence of cicadas (insects) — an unusual ecological phenomenon
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State-Wise Major National Parks — Quick Reference
Memorise by state — most UPSC questions ask “in which state is X NP located”
| State / UT | Major National Parks | Key Species / Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Assam (8 NPs) | Kaziranga ★ | Manas ★ | Orang | Nameri | Dibru-Saikhowa | Raimona | Dihing Patkai | Sikhna Jwhwlao (Feb 2025 new) | One-horned Rhino, Pygmy Hog, Golden Langur, Tiger | Most NPs in any state |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha ★ | Bandhavgarh | Pench | Panna | Satpura | Sanjay-Dubri | Van Vihar | Tiger (highest state count 785), Barasingha (Kanha), White Tiger origin (Bandhavgarh) | “Tiger State of India” |
| Uttarakhand | Jim Corbett ★ | Rajaji | Valley of Flowers ★ | Nanda Devi ★ | Gangotri | Tiger, Elephant, Gharial, Alpine flora (Valley of Flowers), Snow Leopard | India’s oldest NP |
| Rajasthan | Ranthambore ★ | Sariska | Keoladeo Ghana ★ | Desert NP | Mukundra Hills | Tiger (Ranthambore), Birds (Keoladeo), GIB (Desert NP) | 2nd largest NP (Desert NP) |
| Gujarat | Gir ★ | Blackbuck NP (Velavadar) | Marine NP (Gulf of Kutch) | Vansda | Asiatic Lion (only wild population), Blackbuck, Marine biodiversity |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans ★ | Gorumara | Buxa | Neora Valley | Singalila | Jaldapara | Mangrove Tiger, One-horned Rhino (Jaldapara), Red Panda (Singalila) |
| Karnataka | Bandipur ★ | Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) | Kudremukh | Anshi-Dandeli | Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Gaur | Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (with TN parks) |
| Kerala | Periyar ★ | Silent Valley ★ | Eravikulam | Mathikettan Shola | Pampadam Shola | Elephant (Periyar), Nilgiri Tahr (Eravikulam), Lion-tailed Macaque (Silent Valley) | W. Ghats cluster UNESCO |
| Tamil Nadu | Mudumalai ★ | Anaimalai (Indira Gandhi) | Guindy | Gulf of Mannar Marine | Mukundha Hills | Elephant, Tiger, Dugong (Gulf of Mannar), Nilgiri Tahr |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Namdapha ★ | Mouling | Sessa Orchid | Clouded Leopard, Namdapha Flying Squirrel (CR, 1 specimen), Hoolock Gibbon |
| Meghalaya | Nokrek ★ | Balpakram | Red Panda, Clouded Leopard, Wild Pig | Nokrek = Biosphere Reserve |
| Manipur | Keibul Lamjao ★ | Sirohi | Sangai/Eld’s Deer (world’s only floating NP), Siroy Lily (Sirohi) |
| Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh | Hemis ★ (largest NP) | Dachigam | Kishtwar | Snow Leopard (Hemis), Hangul/Kashmir Stag (Dachigam, ~130 left) |
| Himachal Pradesh | Great Himalayan ★ | Pin Valley | Khirganga | Snow Leopard, Western Tragopan | Great Himalayan = UNESCO WHC 2014 |
| Sikkim | Khangchendzonga ★ | Mt Khangchendzonga (3rd highest), Red Panda, Snow Leopard | UNESCO “mixed” WHC (first in India) |
| Odisha | Similipal ★ (107th NP, April 2025) | Bhitarkanika | Tiger, Orchids (Similipal), Saltwater Crocodile (Bhitarkanika), Olive Ridley Turtle (Gahirmatha nearby) |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Campbell Bay | Galathea | Mahatma Gandhi Marine | South Button Island (smallest NP) | Saddle Peak | Leatherback Turtle, Nicobar Megapode, Saltwater Crocodile, Coral reefs |
| Jharkhand | Betla (Palamau) ★ | Tiger Reserve | One of first 9 Project Tiger reserves (1973) | Elephant |
| Madhya Pradesh (additional) | Van Vihar NP (Bhopal) — unusual: in city! | India’s only NP in a state capital | Also zoo/rescue centre | Notable for Indian White Tiger descendants |
⭐ National Parks of India — Complete Cheat Sheet
- Total NPs 2025: 107 (as of April 2025) | Area: 44,402.95 sq km | 1.35% of India’s land | IUCN Category II
- Legal basis: Section 35, Wildlife Protection Act 1972 | Both Central + State Govts can declare | Chief Wildlife Warden manages | Cannot downgrade NP to WLS | Boundary change needs State Legislature approval
- New NPs 2025: 107th = Similipal NP, Odisha (April 2025 — proposed since 1980!) | New Assam NP = Sikhna Jwhwlao (Feb 16, 2025 — 8th NP in Assam)
- Superlatives: Largest = Hemis NP (Ladakh, 4,400 sq km) | Smallest = South Button Island NP (A&N, 5 sq km) | Oldest/First = Jim Corbett (1936, Uttarakhand) | First Marine NP = Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat, 1982) | Only Floating NP = Keibul Lamjao (Manipur, Loktak Lake) | 2nd Largest = Desert NP (Rajasthan, ~3,162 sq km, 2 districts)
- Jim Corbett: 1936 as Hailey NP → Ramganga NP 1954 → Jim Corbett NP 1957 | First Tiger Reserve 1973 | 231 tigers (highest) | Ramganga River | Uttarakhand
- Kaziranga: UNESCO WHC 1985 | Assam | 70%+ world one-horned rhinos | Big Five: Rhino+Tiger+Elephant+Wild Buffalo+Swamp Deer | 480+ birds | Brahmaputra floods = ecological keystone | 100 tigers
- Sundarbans: UNESCO WHC 1987 | W. Bengal | World’s largest mangrove | Only salt-adapted tigers globally | UNESCO Ramsar + Biosphere | Shared with Bangladesh
- Gir: Gujarat | Only wild Asiatic Lions | 891 in 2025 census | NP core 258 sq km | Second home debate (Kuno NP, MP)
- Kanha: MP | Hard-ground Barasingha | Jungle Book inspiration | Barasingha ≠ Sangai (UPSC trap!)
- Manas: Assam | UNESCO WHC 1985 + Tiger Reserve + Biosphere Reserve + Ramsar | Pygmy Hog (CR) | Golden Langur | Wild Water Buffalo | Trans-boundary with Bhutan | UNESCO “in danger” 1992–2011
- Ranthambore: Rajasthan | Sawai Madhopur | Best tiger sightings in India | Ranthambore Fort inside | Machli (India’s most famous tigress)
- Silent Valley: Kerala | Palakkad | “Save Silent Valley” movement 1970s-84 (dam stopped) | Lion-tailed Macaque | No cicadas | Western Ghats UNESCO cluster
- Hemis NP: Ladakh | Largest NP (4,400 sq km) | Highest altitude NP (3,300-6,000m) | Snow Leopard | Hemis Gompa monastery inside
- Keibul Lamjao: Manipur | World’s only floating NP | Loktak Lake phumdis | Sangai/Eld’s Deer (EN, <260) | Ramsar site | NOT Barasingha (Kanha)
- Khangchendzonga: Sikkim | India’s FIRST “mixed” UNESCO WHC (natural + cultural) 2016 | Red Panda | Mt Khangchendzonga (3rd highest peak)
- State with most NPs: Assam (8 NPs) | Most tigers: MP | MP also has most TRs
- UNESCO WHC NPs: Kaziranga (1985) + Manas (1985) + Keoladeo (1985) + Sundarbans (1987) + Nanda Devi (1988) + Valley of Flowers (1988/2005) + Great Himalayan NP (2014) + Khangchendzonga (2016) + Western Ghats cluster (2012)
- Orang NP: Assam | “Mini Kaziranga” | One-horned Rhino + Tiger + Elephant + similar ecosystem | Brahmaputra right bank
- Desert NP: Rajasthan | Jaisalmer + Barmer (2 districts) | No human habitation | GIB habitat | 2nd largest NP | Fossils
- Namdapha: Arunachal Pradesh | Only NP with all 4 big cats (Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard) | Namdapha Flying Squirrel (CR, 1 specimen)
- Similipal (107th): Odisha | April 2025 officially notified | Mayurbhanj | Biosphere Reserve + Tiger Reserve | Orchid paradise | Proposed since 1980
🧪 Practice MCQs
Q1. Which of the following statements about India’s National Parks is/are CORRECT?
1. Similipal National Park in Odisha was officially notified as India’s 107th National Park in April 2025.
2. Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park was notified in February 2025, making it the 8th National Park in Assam.
3. Hemis National Park in Ladakh is India’s largest National Park.
4. South Button Island National Park in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is India’s smallest National Park.
✅ Answer: (d) All four are correct — all are 2024-25 current affairs facts
1 ✅ Similipal NP (107th): Similipal, located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, was officially notified as India’s 107th National Park by the Odisha government in April 2025. This was a major milestone — Similipal had been proposed as a National Park since 1980 and it took 45 years to get formal NP status! Similipal is also a Tiger Reserve (since 1973), a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (since 2009), and is known for its tiger population, elephants, and remarkable orchid diversity. Odisha now has 2 National Parks: Similipal and Bhitarkanika. 2 ✅ Sikhna Jwhwlao NP: The Assam government officially notified Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park on February 16, 2025. It is located within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) — making it the 3rd NP in BTR and the 8th National Park in Assam. Assam now has the most National Parks of any state in India: Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, Nameri, Dibru-Saikhowa, Raimona, Dihing Patkai, and Sikhna Jwhwlao. 3 ✅ Hemis NP (largest): Hemis National Park in Ladakh (J&K) is India’s largest National Park, covering approximately 4,400 sq km. It is also the highest altitude National Park in India (3,300–6,000 metres), famous for its Snow Leopard population and trans-Himalayan cold desert ecosystem. It contains the famous Hemis Gompa (Buddhist monastery) within its boundaries. 4 ✅ South Button Island (smallest): South Button Island National Park in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is India’s smallest National Park, with an area of approximately 5 sq km. Despite its tiny size, it supports a rich marine ecosystem including coral reefs.
Q2. Which of the following National Park — Special Feature pairs is CORRECTLY matched?
1. Keibul Lamjao NP — World’s only floating national park, home to Sangai (Eld’s Deer)
2. Desert National Park (Rajasthan) — Spread over two districts, prime habitat of Great Indian Bustard
3. Namdapha NP — Only NP in India with all four big cat species (Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard)
4. Kanha NP — Last stronghold of the hard-ground Barasingha, inspiration for Jungle Book
✅ Answer: (d) All four are correctly matched
1 ✅ Keibul Lamjao: Located in the Bishnupur district of Manipur, Keibul Lamjao is the world’s ONLY floating national park — it rests on phumdis (floating organic matter mats) of Loktak Lake. Established in 1977 specifically to protect the Sangai (Cervus eldi eldi), or brow-antlered deer, which is the State animal of Manipur. The park physically moves with changes in water level. Loktak Lake is a Ramsar site. The Sangai has <260 individuals remaining. Note: Sangai is Eld’s Deer — NOT to be confused with Barasingha (Swamp Deer found in Kanha). 2 ✅ Desert NP: The Desert National Park is located across two districts of Rajasthan — Jaisalmer district and Barmer district. It is one of the few NPs spread across multiple districts. It is the second-largest NP in India (~3,162 sq km). It is a critical habitat for the Great Indian Bustard (CR) — fewer than 100-150 remain, primarily in Rajasthan’s grasslands and Desert NP. There is no human habitation inside the park. UPSC 2020 directly tested these facts. 3 ✅ Namdapha NP: Namdapha NP in Arunachal Pradesh (Changlang district) is the only National Park in India reputed to have all four big cat species — Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded Leopard — in one area. This makes it uniquely valuable ecologically. It also harbors the extremely rare Namdapha Flying Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi) — known from only one specimen collected in 1981. It is India’s largest NP in the northeast (1,985 sq km). 4 ✅ Kanha NP: Kanha is the last stronghold of the hard-ground Barasingha (Cervus duvaucelii branderi) — the Madhya Pradesh state animal. This subspecies, unlike other Barasingha, has adapted to dry hard ground rather than swamps. Project Barasingha in Kanha brought the population back from near-extinction. Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (featuring Mowgli, Sher Khan, Baloo) is inspired by the forests of the Kanha-Pench region of Central India’s Satpura range.
📜 UPSC Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct?
1. It is spread over two districts.
2. There is no human habitation inside the Park.
3. It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.
Select the correct answer:
✅ Official Answer: (d) All three statements are correct
This PYQ is a perfect example of how UPSC tests specific, factual knowledge about individual national parks. 1 ✅ Two districts: Desert National Park spans Jaisalmer district AND Barmer district of Rajasthan. It covers approximately 3,162 sq km — making it India’s second-largest national park. Most national parks are within a single district, so the “two districts” fact is a key distinguishing characteristic. 2 ✅ No human habitation: Unlike many national parks (especially older ones that have “enclave villages”), Desert NP has no human habitation inside its boundaries. This is significant because most national parks established in independent India often had villages inside that had to be relocated — Desert NP’s uninhabited status reflects its harsh climate (extreme desert) that historically prevented permanent settlement within its core. 3 ✅ Great Indian Bustard habitat: Desert NP is one of the most critical remaining habitats for the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps, CR). The GIB is India’s most critically endangered large bird — fewer than 100-150 individuals remain, concentrated primarily in Rajasthan’s desert grasslands, including the Desert NP area near Jaisalmer. This is why the Supreme Court’s 2021 order on underground power cables was specifically focused on GIB conservation zones in Rajasthan.
Which one of the following National Parks lies completely within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir?
(a) Dachigam National Park
(b) Hemis National Park
(c) Khangchendzonga National Park
(d) Valley of Flowers National Park
✅ Official Answer: (a) Dachigam National Park — but this question needs important 2019 update note
Important 2019 Update: When this question was set (2020), J&K was reorganised into two Union Territories in August 2019 — J&K (UT) and Ladakh (UT). Both Dachigam AND Hemis are in the former J&K region, but they are now in DIFFERENT UTs. (a) Dachigam NP: Located near Srinagar, in the Kashmir Valley — now in Jammu & Kashmir UT (NOT Ladakh UT). Famous as the last stronghold of the Kashmiri Stag (Hangul) — ~110-130 individuals. Dachigam lies completely within J&K UT. (b) Hemis NP: Located in Leh district — now in Ladakh UT (NOT J&K UT). India’s largest NP. Famous for Snow Leopards. Post-2019 reorganisation, Hemis is in Ladakh, not J&K. (c) Khangchendzonga NP: Located in Sikkim (a state) — not in J&K or Ladakh. UNESCO mixed WHC (2016). (d) Valley of Flowers NP: Located in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand (a state) — not in J&K or Ladakh. UNESCO WHC 2005. The answer at time of question: Dachigam lies in J&K UT (Kashmir Division), Hemis lies in Ladakh UT — so post-reorganisation, neither is a fully correct answer by strict reading. UPSC’s intended answer was (a) Dachigam, based on pre-2019 understanding or J&K UT post-2019. This is a nuanced question requiring awareness of the 2019 J&K bifurcation.
This is one of the most confusing aspects of India’s protected area system — and UPSC regularly tests it. The key is understanding that these are DIFFERENT types of designations that can overlap on the SAME geographical area. National Park (NP): Legal designation under WPA 1972 Section 35. Strictest protection — no human activity. Managed by Chief Wildlife Warden. Area cannot be reduced without State Legislature. India: 107 NPs. Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS): Under WPA 1972 Section 26A. Less strict — some human activities (grazing, non-harmful uses) allowed. Private lands can exist inside. India: 575+ WLS. A WLS can be upgraded to NP. Tiger Reserve (TR): NOT a standalone legal entity! A TR is a designation under Project Tiger (managed by NTCA) given to an area for tiger conservation. It usually consists of a National Park or WLS as the CORE zone (with strict protection) plus a BUFFER zone around it. So Jim Corbett NP is the core of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. India: 58 TRs as of 2025. Biosphere Reserve (BR): UNESCO “Man and Biosphere” (MAB) programme designation. India: 18 BRs. Three zones: Core (strictly protected), Buffer (research permitted), Transition (some human use). BRs focus on balancing conservation with human use. They may encompass NPs and WLS within their core. India: 12 of 18 BRs are recognized by UNESCO MAB. Can they overlap? YES! Kaziranga NP + Tiger Reserve + Ramsar Site = THREE designations on the same area. Manas NP + Tiger Reserve + Biosphere Reserve + UNESCO WHC + Ramsar Site = FIVE designations. Sundarbans NP + Tiger Reserve + Biosphere Reserve + UNESCO WHC + Ramsar Site = FIVE designations. The overlapping designations provide multiple layers of protection and international recognition — each adds a different level of conservation status and funding priority.
Legacy IAS — UPSC Civil Services Coaching, Bangalore |
Sources: LotusArise — National Parks India (1 week ago 2026: 107 NPs April 2025); StudyIQ — National Parks India 2026 (Similipal = 107th April 2025); IAShub — National Parks India list 2025; GKDaily — National Parks state-wise guide (February 2026); MapsForUPSC — National Parks India (Sikhna Jwhwlao Feb 2025); SPM IAS — National Parks India 2025 (Kaziranga Big Five); CivilsAarthi — National Parks India 2026 (109 listed including recent additions); SuperKalam — National Parks India UPSC key facts; IAS Gyan — National Parks UPSC 2025; Vajiram & Ravi — National Parks India 2026; Tarun IAS — National Parks 2025 list; Wikipedia — Khangchendzonga (first mixed WHC India 2016), Silent Valley movement history.
