India has 89 Ramsar sites, recognized as wetlands of international importance. These sites are spread across various states and union territories, showcasing the country’s diverse wetland ecosystems. Key regions with significant Ramsar sites include Tamil Nadu (18 Ramsar sites), which has the highest number of sites, and states like Odisha (6) and Uttar Pradesh (10).
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: It is an international agreement for the preservation and responsible use of wetlands. Here are the main points:
- Signed on: February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. This date is now celebrated as World Wetlands Day.
- Wetlands are defined as areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface year-round or seasonally.
- The Ramsar Convention categorizes wetlands into:
- Natural wetlands: Oases, estuaries, deltas, mangroves, coastal areas, coral reefs.
- Human-made wetlands: Fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs.
| No | Name | Location | Designated Date |
| 1 | Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | 19 August 2002 |
| 2 | Deepor Beel | Assam | 19 August 2002 |
| 3 | Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake | Bihar | 21 July 2020 |
| 4 | Nanda Lake | Goa | 8 June 2022 |
| 5 | Thol Lake | Gujarat | 05 April 2021 |
| 6 | Wadhvana Wetland | Gujarat | 05 April 2021 |
| 7 | Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary | Gujarat | 13 April 2021 |
| 8 | Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary | Gujarat | 24 September 2012 |
| 9 | Sultanpur National Park | Haryana | 25 May 2021 |
| 10 | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary | Haryana | 25 May 2021 |
| 11 | Pong Dam Lake | Himachal Pradesh | 19 August 2002 |
| 12 | Chandra Taal | Himachal Pradesh | 8 November 2005 |
| 13 | Renuka Lake | Himachal Pradesh | 8 November 2005 |
| 14 | Ashtamudi Wetland | Kerala | |
| 15 | Loktak Lake | Manipur | 23 March 1990 |
| 16 | East Kolkata Wetlands | West Bengal | 19 August 2002 |
| 17 | Nandur Madhameshwar | Maharashtra | 21 June 2019 |
| 18 | Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary | Punjab | 26 September 2019 |
| 19 | Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 19 September 2019 |
| 20 | Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 2 December 2019 |
| 21 | Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 19 August 2002 |
| 22 | Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve | Punjab | 26 September 2019 |
| 23 | Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan | 1 October 1981 |
| 24 | Ropar Wetland | Punjab | 22 January 2002 |
| 25 | Rudrasagar Lake | Tripura | 8 November 2005 |
| 26 | Saman Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 2 December 2019 |
| 27 | Samaspur Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 3 October 2019 |
| 28 | Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | 23 March 1990 |
| 29 | Sandi Bird Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 26 September 2019 |
| 30 | Sarsai Nawar Jheel | Uttar Pradesh | 19 September 2019 |
| 31 | Sasthamkotta Lake | Kerala | 19 August 2002 |
| 32 | Haiderpur Wetland | Uttar Pradesh | 13 April 2021 |
| 33 | Sundarban Wetland | West Bengal | 30 January 2019 |
| 34 | Surinsar-Mansar Lakes | Jammu and Kashmir | 8 November 2005 |
| 35 | Tsomoriri | Ladakh | 19 August 2002 |
| 36 | Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch) | Uttar Pradesh | 8 November 2005 |
| 37 | Vembanad-Kol Wetland | Kerala | 19 August 2002[19] |
| 38 | Wular Lake | Jammu and Kashmir | 23 March 1990 |
| 39 | Asan Barrage | Uttarakhand | 21 July 2020 |
| 40 | Bhitarkanika Mangroves | Odisha | 10 August 2002 |
| 41 | Sur Sarovar | Uttar Pradesh | 21 August 2020 |
| 42 | Lonar Lake | Maharashtra | 22 July 2020 |
| 43 | Tso Kar | Ladakh | 17 November 2020 |
| 44 | Hokera Wetland | Jammu and Kashmir | 8 November 2005 |
| 45 | Kanjli Wetland | Punjab | 22 January 2002 |
| 46 | Chilika Lake | Odisha | 1 October 1981 |
| 47 | Beas Conservation Reserve | Punjab | 26 September 2019 |
| 48 | Bakhira Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | 29 June 2021 |
| 49 | Harike Wetland | Punjab | 23 March 1990 |
| 50 | Karikili Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 51 | Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 52 | Pichavaram Mangrove Forest | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 53 | Pala Wetland | Mizoram | 31 August 2021 |
| 54 | Sakhya Sagar | Madhya Pradesh | 7 January 2022 |
| 55 | Satkosia Gorge | Odisha | 12 October 2021 |
| 56 | Bhoj Wetland | Madhya Pradesh | 19 August 2002 |
| 57 | Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 58 | Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary | Karnataka | 15 February 2022 |
| 59 | Vembannur Wetland Complex | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 60 | Vellode Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 61 | Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 62 | Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 63 | Sirpur Lake | Madhya Pradesh | 7 January 2022 |
| 64 | Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 November 2021 |
| 65 | Tampara Lake | Odisha | 12 October 2021 |
| 66 | Hirakud Reservoir | Odisha | 12 October 2021 |
| 67 | Ansupa Lake | Odisha | 12 October 2021 |
| 68 | Yashwant Sagar | Madhya Pradesh | 7 January 2022 |
| 69 | Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 November 2021 |
| 70 | Suchindram Theroor Wetland Complex | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 71 | Vaduvur Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 72 | Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 8 April 2022 |
| 73 | Thane Creek | Maharashtra | 13 April 2022 |
| 74 | Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve | Jammu and Kashmir | 8 June 2022 |
| 75 | Shallabugh Wetland Conservation Reserve | Jammu and Kashmir | 8 June 2022 |
| 76 | Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve | Karnataka | 10 March 2023 |
| 77 | Aghanashini Estuary | Karnataka | 14 February 2023 |
| 78 | Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve | Karnataka | 14 February 2023 |
| 79 | Karaivetti Bird sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 24 May 2023 |
| 80 | Longwood Shola Reserve Forest | Tamil Nadu | 24 May 2023 |
| 81 | Nagi Bird Sanctuary | Bihar | 11 October 2023 |
| 82 | Nakti Bird Sanctuary | Bihar | 11 October 2023 |
| 83 | Tawa Reservoir | Madhya Pradesh | 08 January 2024 |
| 84 | Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 16 January 2024 |
| 85 | Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 16 January 2024 |
| 86 | Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 2 February 2025 |
| 87 | Therthangal Bird Sanctuary | Tamil Nadu | 2 February 2025 |
| 88 | Khecheopalli Lake | Sikkim | 2 February 2025 |
| 89 | Udhwa Lake | Jharkhand | 2 February 2025 |