Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, List of National Parks: The 2026 Conservation Guide

In the year 2026, India stands as a global beacon of biodiversity conservation. With the recent launch of the National Red List Roadmap 2025-2030 and the expansion of the Nagar Van Yojana, the country has renewed its pledge to protect its ecological heritage. For students of environmental science, UPSC aspirants, and ecology enthusiasts, understanding the intricate network of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India is no longer just about memorizing maps—it is about understanding the lifeline of our planet.

India, one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, hosts a staggering variety of flora and fauna. This biodiversity is guarded by a robust legal framework comprising National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves. However, the distinction between these categories often confuses even the brightest minds. Why is the Nilgiri region a Biosphere Reserve and a National Park? What allows human activity in a Sanctuary but bans it in a Park?

In this extensive guide, we will navigate the lush landscapes of 2026. We will explore the updated Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, provide a definitive state-wise List of National Parks, and discuss the latest conservation projects like Project Dolphin Phase-II and Project Sloth Bear. Whether you are preparing for CSIR NET or planning an eco-tour, this blog is your ultimate resource.

The Three Pillars of Conservation: Park vs. Sanctuary vs. Reserve

To truly grasp the scope of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, we must first decode the legal and ecological differences between the three primary categories of protected areas (PAs).

National Parks: The Fortresses of Nature

A National Park is an area dedicated to the conservation of the entire ecosystem. It is the highest level of protection available in India.

• Protection Level: Absolute. No human activity is allowed inside the core area.
• Restrictions: Grazing, hunting, forestry, and private land ownership are strictly prohibited.
• Goal: To preserve the “wild nature” for future generations without any human interference.
• 2026 Status: As of 2026, India boasts 107 National Parks, covering approximately 1.35% of the country’s geographical area. These parks, ranging from the snow-clad Hemis in Ladakh to the mangroves of Sundarbans, are the crown jewels of Indian conservation.

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Species-Centric Havens

A Wildlife Sanctuary is often created to protect a specific species (e.g., the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sanctuary).

• Protection Level: High, but with exceptions.
• Human Activity: Limited human activities like livestock grazing, collection of firewood, and tourism are allowed, provided they do not interfere with the wildlife.
• Flexibility: Boundaries can be altered by state governments more easily than National Parks.
• Status: There are over 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India today, forming the bulk of the Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India network.

Biosphere Reserves: The Coexistence Model

The concept of a Biosphere Reserve (BR) is broader. It aligns with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme.

• Structure: It is divided into three zones:
  1. Core Zone: Strictly protected (usually a National Park).
  2. Buffer Zone: Research and eco-tourism are allowed.
  3. Transition Zone: Human settlements, agriculture, and sustainable economic activities are permitted.
• Goal: To balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable development and scientific research.
• Significance: When we talk about Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, we are talking about living laboratories where humans and nature interact.

Biosphere Reserves in India: The 2026 Status Report

As of 2026, India has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves. Out of these, 13 have been recognized under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), a testament to India’s global standing in ecology.

Let’s delve into these 18 reserves that form the backbone of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India.

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka)

• Established: 1986 (First in India).
• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2000.
• Key Fauna: Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque.
• Significance: It connects the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. It includes the Mudumalai, Bandipur, and Nagarhole National Parks.

2. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (Uttarakhand)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2004.
• Key Fauna: Snow Leopard, Himalayan Musk Deer.
• Geography: Includes the Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3. Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu)

• Type: Marine Biosphere Reserve.
• Key Fauna: Dugong (Sea Cow).
• Conservation 2026: Recent efforts under Project Dolphin Phase-II have focused heavily here to protect marine cetaceans.

4. Nokrek (Meghalaya)

• Key Fauna: Red Panda, Hoolock Gibbon.
• Significance: Located in the Garo Hills, it is a hotspot for citrus gene diversity.

5. Sundarbans (West Bengal)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2001.
• Key Fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger (swamp adaptations).
• Uniqueness: The largest single block of tidal halophytic mangroves in the world.

6. Manas (Assam)

• Key Fauna: Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog.
• Status: A UNESCO World Heritage Site (Natural). While not yet in the WNBR, it is a critical part of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India.

7. Simlipal (Odisha)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2009.
• Key Fauna: Tiger, Elephant, Gaur.
• Feature: Known for its waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.

8. Dihang-Dibang (Arunachal Pradesh)

• Key Fauna: Musk Deer, Mishmi Takin.
• Geography: Covers the Mouling National Park and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary.

9. Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2009.
• Key Fauna: Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel.
• Geography: Located in the Satpura Range.

10. Achanakmar-Amarkantak (MP & Chhattisgarh)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2012.
• Significance: Source of three major rivers: Narmada, Johilla, and Son.

11. Great Rann of Kutch (Gujarat)

• Key Fauna: Indian Wild Ass.
• Feature: The largest Biosphere Reserve in India by area.

12. Cold Desert (Himachal Pradesh)

• Key Fauna: Snow Leopard.
• Geography: Includes Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

13. Khangchendzonga (Sikkim)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2018.
• Key Fauna: Red Panda, Snow Leopard.
• Feature: One of the highest ecosystems in the world.

14. Agasthyamalai (Kerala, Tamil Nadu)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2016.
• Flora: Famous for rare medicinal plants and the Kanikaran tribe.

15. Great Nicobar (Andaman & Nicobar)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2013.
• Key Fauna: Saltwater Crocodile.
• Geography: The southernmost point of India (Indira Point) lies here.

16. Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam)

• Key Fauna: White-winged Wood Duck, Feral Horses.
• Feature: One of the smallest Biosphere Reserves.

17. Seshachalam Hills (Andhra Pradesh)

• Key Fauna: Slender Loris.
• Flora: Famous for Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood).

18. Panna (Madhya Pradesh)

• UNESCO Status: Recognized in 2020.
• Key Fauna: Tiger, Ghariyal.
• Significance: A successful model of tiger reintroduction.

Understanding these 18 zones is crucial when discussing Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, as they represent the macro-level management of our ecology.

List of National Parks in India (Updated 2026)

While Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India offer a mixed-use model, National Parks are the strict guardians. Below is the state-wise distribution of the 107 National Parks crucial for any exam in 2026.

National Parks in Northern India

Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh

1. Hemis National Park (Ladakh): The largest National Park in India. Famous for Snow Leopards.
2. Dachigam National Park: Home to the Hangul (Kashmir Stag).
3. Kishtwar National Park.
4. City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park.

Himachal Pradesh 5. Great Himalayan National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site. 6. Pin Valley National Park. 7. Inderkilla National Park. 8. Khirganga National Park. 9. Simbalbara National Park.

Uttarakhand 10. Jim Corbett National Park: India’s first NP (Est. 1936). 11. Nanda Devi National Park. 12. Valley of Flowers National Park: Famous for endemic alpine flowers. 13. Rajaji National Park: Elephant corridor. 14. Gangotri National Park. 15. Govind Pashu Vihar.

Haryana 16. Sultanpur National Park. 17. Kalesar National Park.

Rajasthan 18. Ranthambore National Park: Famous Tiger Reserve. 19. Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Bharatpur): Bird paradise. 20. Sariska National Park. 21. Desert National Park: Home to the Great Indian Bustard. 22. Mukundra Hills National Park.

National Parks in Central & Western India

Madhya Pradesh (The Tiger State) MP has the highest number of National Parks in India. 23. Kanha National Park: Inspiration for The Jungle Book. 24. Bandhavgarh National Park: Highest density of tigers. 25. Panna National Park. 26. Satpura National Park. 27. Pench (Priyadarshini) National Park. 28. Madhav National Park. 29. Van Vihar National Park. 30. Fossil National Park. 31. Dinosaur Fossil National Park. 32. Kuno National Park: Famous for the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.

Gujarat 33. Gir National Park: The only home of the Asiatic Lion. 34. Blackbuck (Velavadar) National Park. 35. Vansda National Park. 36. Marine National Park (Gulf of Kutch).

Maharashtra 37. Tadoba National Park. 38. Sanjay Gandhi (Borivali) National Park. 39. Navegaon National Park. 40. Gugamal National Park. 41. Chandoli National Park. 42. Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) National Park.

Chhattisgarh 43. Indravati National Park. 44. Kanger Valley National Park. 45. Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park.

National Parks in Eastern & North-Eastern India

The Northeast is a major hotspot in the Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India network.

Assam 46. Kaziranga National Park: Two-thirds of the world’s One-horned Rhinos. 47. Manas National Park. 48. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. 49. Nameri National Park. 50. Orang National Park. 51. Raimona National Park (Est. 2021). 52. Dehing Patkai National Park (Est. 2021).

West Bengal 53. Sundarbans National Park. 54. Neora Valley National Park. 55. Singalila National Park. 56. Buxa National Park. 57. Gorumara National Park. 58. Jaldapara National Park.

Odisha 59. Simlipal National Park. 60. Bhitarkanika National Park: Famous for Mangroves and Crocodiles.

Sikkim 61. Khangchendzonga National Park.

Arunachal Pradesh 62. Namdapha National Park. 63. Mouling National Park.

Meghalaya 64. Balphakram National Park. 65. Nokrek Ridge National Park.

Manipur 66. Keibul Lamjao National Park: The world’s only floating national park. 67. Shiroi National Park.

Mizoram 68. Murlen National Park. 69. Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park.

Nagaland 70. Intanki National Park.

Tripura 71. Clouded Leopard National Park. 72. Bison (Rajbari) National Park.

National Parks in Southern India & Islands

Karnataka 73. Bandipur National Park. 74. Nagarhole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park. 75. Bannerghatta National Park. 76. Kudremukh National Park. 77. Anshi National Park.

Kerala 78. Eravikulam National Park. 79. Silent Valley National Park. 80. Periyar National Park. 81. Mathikettan Shola National Park. 82. Anamudi Shola National Park. 83. Pampadum Shola National Park.

Tamil Nadu 84. Mudumalai National Park. 85. Guindy National Park. 86. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. 87. Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park. 88. Mukurthi National Park.

Andhra Pradesh 89. Papikonda National Park. 90. Sri Venkateswara National Park. 91. Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park.

Telangana 92. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park. 93. Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park. 94. Mrugavani National Park.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands 95. Campbell Bay National Park. 96. Galathea Bay National Park. 97. Mahatma Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) National Park. 98. Middle Button Island National Park. 99. Mount Harriet National Park. 100. North Button Island National Park. 101. Rani Jhansi Marine National Park. 102. Saddle Peak National Park. 103. South Button Island National Park.

Bihar, Jharkhand, UP & Goa 104. Valmiki National Park (Bihar). 105. Betla National Park (Jharkhand). 106. Dudhwa National Park (Uttar Pradesh). 107. Mollem National Park (Goa).

This exhaustive list represents the core of the Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India. Each park tells a story of survival, from the lions of Gir to the rhinos of Kaziranga.

Major Wildlife Sanctuaries in India: 2026 Highlights

While there are too many to list individually, certain Wildlife Sanctuaries stand out in 2026 due to recent conservation focus.

• National Chambal Sanctuary: The focus of Project Gharial and Project Dolphin Phase-II.
• Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary: Critical for the Great Indian Bustard recovery program.
• Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal): A model for community-based conservation.
• Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): One of the oldest in the country, vital for migratory birds.

The network of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India works in tandem. Sanctuaries often act as buffer zones for National Parks, allowing for a gradient of protection that is essential for species that migrate or have large home ranges, like elephants and tigers.

Conservation Initiatives 2026: A New Era

The landscape of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India is dynamic. In 2026, several new initiatives have reshaped how we manage these areas.

Project Dolphin Phase-II (2025-2030)

Launched to protect both riverine and marine dolphins, this project focuses heavily on the Ganges River Dolphin (National Aquatic Animal) and the Irrawaddy Dolphin. Protected areas like Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary and Chilika Lake are central to this mission.

Project Sloth Bear

India harbors 90% of the global Sloth Bear population. In late 2025, the MoEFCC launched Project Sloth Bear to address the rising human-bear conflict. This involves better management of Sanctuaries like Daroji (Karnataka) and Jessore (Gujarat).

National Red List Roadmap (2025-2030)

In a landmark move at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, India unveiled its roadmap to assess and document the status of its flora and fauna. This data-driven approach will dictate the future boundaries and management plans of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India.

Nagar Van Yojana (Urban Forests)

While not traditional sanctuaries, the Nagar Van Yojana aims to create 1000 urban forests by 2027. These “micro-sanctuaries” in cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Delhi act as green lungs and reduce the pressure on major Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India.

VedPrep: Your Gateway to Ecological Mastery

The vast syllabus of Ecology, spanning Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, Population Dynamics, and Conservation Biology, is a nightmare for many students. Whether you are preparing for CSIR NET Life Sciences, GATE Ecology, IIT JAM, or CUET PG, the sheer volume of data can be overwhelming.

This is where VedPrep transforms your preparation journey.

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• Unit-10 Ecology Mastery: Our specialized modules, led by experts like Shaily Ma’am, break down complex topics like Island Biogeography and Lotka-Volterra models into digestible concepts.
• Visual Learning: We use high-quality maps and infographics to help you visualize the locations of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India, ensuring you never forget which park belongs to which state.
• Current Affairs Integration: As seen in this blog, 2026 is a year of new projects (Project Dolphin, Red List Roadmap). VedPrep integrates these latest updates into your study material, giving you the edge in “Part C” analytical questions.
• Exam-Focused Strategy: From the “JRF Express” revision series to the “CUET PG Premier League,” our courses are designed to maximize your score in minimum time.

Don’t let the vastness of Indian biodiversity scare you. With VedPrep’s structured courses, you can turn the topic of Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India from a weakness into your strongest asset. Join the league of toppers today.

Conclusion

India’s conservation story is one of resilience and foresight. From the establishment of the first National Park in 1936 to the sophisticated Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India network of 2026, the country has continuously evolved its strategies to protect Mother Nature.

Today, with 107 National Parks, 18 Biosphere Reserves, and over 570 Wildlife Sanctuaries, India offers a sanctuary not just for tigers and elephants, but for the human spirit itself. As we face global climate challenges, these protected areas serve as our first line of defense against ecological collapse.

For the student, the researcher, and the traveler, exploring the Biosphere Reserves and Sanctuaries in India is a journey of discovery. It is a reminder that we do not own the Earth; we share it. Let this guide serve as your compass in navigating the wild heart of Incredible India.

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