📌 Chapter Snapshot
18
Biosphere Reserves of India
58
Tiger Reserves (2026)
3,682
Average Tiger Estimate (2022)
~70%
India's Share of Wild Tigers (July 2026)
- This chapter covers India's Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, important wildlife facts, Tiger Census data, timeline of major wildlife conservation projects, and a complete state-wise list of India's 58 Tiger Reserves.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Project Tiger (1973) was launched from Jim Corbett National Park — the same park that was India's first National Park (as Hailey NP, 1936).
🌳 Biosphere Reserve / Reserved Area
- Started under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (1971).
- Functions: conservation, sustainable development, and logistic support for research, monitoring, education and training. India has 18 national Biosphere Reserves; 13 in UNESCO's World Network (2026 snapshot).
Biosphere Reserves of India
| Biosphere Reserve | State / Location |
|---|---|
| Cold Desert | Himachal Pradesh |
| Nanda Devi | Uttarakhand |
| Khangchendzonga | Sikkim |
| Dehang-Debang | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Manas | Assam |
| Dibru Saikhowa (Smallest) | Assam |
| Nokrek | Meghalaya |
| Sundarbans | West Bengal |
| Simlipal | Odisha |
| Pachmarhi | Madhya Pradesh |
| Panna | Madhya Pradesh |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak | Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh |
| Seshachalam Hills | Andhra Pradesh |
| Nilgiri (First, 1986) | Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka |
| Agasthyamalai | Kerala & Tamil Nadu |
| Gulf of Mannar | Tamil Nadu |
| Great Rann of Kutch (Largest) | Gujarat |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Nilgiri was India's FIRST Biosphere Reserve (1986), while Great Rann of Kutch is the LARGEST — don't confuse "first" with "largest".
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Nagarhole National Park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve — a commonly tested linkage.
📌 Important Facts
- Asian Black Bear and Snow Leopard are found in Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks.
- Estuarine Crocodile Conservation is carried out at Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (Odisha).
- First National Park: Hailey (1936) → Ramganga (1954-55) → Corbett (1955-56/1956). It remains Corbett National Park.
🐅 Tiger Census
3,682
Average Tiger Estimate (2022)
58
Total Tiger Reserves (2026)
~70%
India's Share of Wild Tigers (July 2026)
84,487.83
Total Notified Area (sq km, 2026)
Highest Tiger Population (order)Madhya Pradesh (785) > Karnataka (563) > Uttarakhand (560), 2022 estimation
"Tiger State"Madhya Pradesh
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 from Jim Corbett National Park — Madhya Pradesh today holds the highest tiger population and is called the "Tiger State".
🚀 Wildlife Conservation Projects — Timeline
| Project Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Hangul Project | 1970 |
| Project Lion | 2020 (modern project announcement) |
| Project Tiger | 1973 |
| Crocodile Conservation | 1975 |
| Sangai: Keibul Lamjao National Park notification | 1977 |
| Rhino reintroduction to Dudhwa | 1984 first phase; 1985 second translocation |
| Project Elephant | 1992 |
| Project Red Panda | 1990 breeding project; first planned successful breeding in 1994 |
| Project Turtle | 1999 |
| Project Snow Leopard | 2009 |
| Great Indian Bustard recovery programme/task force | By 2011 |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Hangul Project (1970) predates Project Tiger (1973) by 3 years — a common "which came first" trap since Project Tiger is far more famous.
🗺 Tiger Reserves in India — State-wise (58 Total, 2026)
| State | Tiger Reserves |
|---|---|
| Rajasthan | Ranthambore National Park, Sariska National Park, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Dholpur-Karauli |
| Uttarakhand | Kalagarh-Corbett, Rajaji Tiger Reserve |
| Uttar Pradesh | Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Ranipur Tiger Reserve |
| Bihar | Valmiki Tiger Reserve |
| Jharkhand | Palamau Tiger Reserve |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve |
| Assam | Manas National Park, Nameri National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Orang Tiger Reserve (smallest total notified area in the 2026 snapshot) |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Namdapha National Park, Pakke Tiger Reserve, Kamlang Tiger Reserve |
| Mizoram | Dampa Tiger Reserve |
| Odisha | Simlipal National Park, Satkosia Tiger Reserve |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, Panna National Park, Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve, Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Madhav National Park |
| Chhattisgarh | Indravati National Park, Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve |
| Telangana | Kawal Tiger Reserve, Amrabad Tiger Reserve |
| Andhra Pradesh | Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve |
| Maharashtra | Melghat Tiger Reserve, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Pench National Park, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Bor Tiger Reserve |
| Karnataka | Bandipur National Park, Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Kali Tiger Reserve (Dandeli-Anshi), Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Biligiri Ranganatha Tiger Reserve |
| Kerala | Periyar Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve |
| Tamil Nadu | Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Annamalai (Indira Gandhi) Tiger Reserve, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
By total notified area in the NTCA snapshot (2026): Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), 3,296.31 sq km, is largest; Orang (Assam), 492.46 sq km, is smallest. Area definitions matter.
📋 Master Quick-Revision Table
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Biosphere Reserve — Programme | UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (1971) |
| First Biosphere Reserve of India | Nilgiri (1986) | Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka |
| Largest Biosphere Reserve | Great Rann of Kutch (Gujarat) |
| Smallest Biosphere Reserve | Dibru Saikhowa (Assam) |
| Nagarhole National Park | Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| First National Park of India | Hailey (1936) → Ramganga (1954-55) → Corbett (1955-56/1956) |
| Estuarine Crocodile Conservation | Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (Odisha) |
| Project Tiger — Launched | 1973 | Jim Corbett National Park |
| Total Tiger Reserves | 58 (as of 2026) |
| Average Tiger Estimate (2022) | 3,682; estimated range 3,167-3,925 |
| India's share of world tigers | Nearly 70% (July 2026) |
| Tiger Reserves — Total Area | 84,487.83 sq km |
| Highest Tiger Population — State | Madhya Pradesh > Karnataka > Uttarakhand |
| Biggest Tiger Reserve | Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh | 3,296.31 sq km (total notified area) |
| Smallest Tiger Reserve | Orang, Assam | 492.46 sq km (total notified area) |
| Oldest Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra | Melghat | One of the original nine Project Tiger reserves (1973-74) |
| Hangul Project | 1970 |
| Project Lion | 2020 (modern project announcement) |
| Project Tiger | 1973 |
| Crocodile Conservation | 1975 |
| Rhino reintroduction to Dudhwa | 1984 first phase; 1985 second translocation |
| Project Elephant | 1992 |
| Project Red Panda | 1990 breeding project; first planned successful breeding in 1994 |
| Project Snow Leopard | 2009 |
| Great Indian Bustard recovery programme/task force | By 2011 |