India's Ramsar Sites Reach 103 with 2 New Lakes

• 16 Oct 2026

On October 15, 2026, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav announced the inclusion of Chandigarh's Sukhna Wetland and Uttar Pradesh's Sauj Jheel in the Ramsar list. With this, the total number of Ramsar sites in India has reached 103.

Key Facts

• New Ramsar Sites: Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel have been added to the list of Wetlands of International Importance. Their conservation is crucial for biodiversity and ecological balance.
• Sukhna Wetland: A man-made reservoir located at the foothills of the Shivalik Hills in Chandigarh. It serves as an important refuge for birds along the Central Asian Flyway. Endangered species such as Pallas's Fish Eagle and the Black Pond Turtle are found here.
• Sauj Jheel: A natural wetland located in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh. It is associated with the Ganges floodplain and provides shelter to a large number of waterbirds. It has also been declared an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).
• Ramsar Site Numbers: Sukhna Wetland has been assigned Ramsar Site No. 2602 and Sauj Jheel has been assigned Ramsar Site No. 2603 in the international Ramsar list.