• National Parks in India act as an apt place for preserving animals by providing natural habitat and prey. Anthropogenic activities like developmental activities, industrial activities, forestry, poaching, hunting, and cultivation are not permitted.
  • The boundaries of National Parks are well defined and no private activities are allowed inside the National Park.
  • national park has more restrictions as compared to a wildlife sanctuary. Their boundaries are fixed and defined.
  • Here, no human activity is allowed. They cannot be downgraded to the status of a ‘sanctuary’. National parks can be declared both by the Central Government and State governments.
  • National parks in India are IUCN category II protected areas. India’s first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
  • By 1970, India only had five national parks. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard the habitats of conservation-reliant species.
  • As of June 2021, there were 106 national parks encompassing an area of 40,501.13 km2 (15,637.57 sq mi), under-protected areas of India category II comprising 1.33% of India’s total surface area.
  • The Chief Wildlife Warden shall be the authority who shall control, manage, and maintain all protected areas.

Declaration of the Protected Area by the State government:

  • Initial notification: The State government may, by notification, declare its intention to constitute any area within or outside any reserve forest as a sanctuary/national park if it considers that such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
  • Final notification: After the initial notification has been issued and the period for preferring claims has elapsed, the State government may issue a notification specifying the limits of the area which can be comprised within the sanctuary and declare the said area shall be a sanctuary/national park from such date as may be specified in the notification.

Declared by the Central government:

  • The Central Government may declare an area to be a sanctuary/national park if it is satisfied that the area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
  • Largest National Park of India: Hemis National Park, Ladakh
  • Smallest National Park: South Button Island National Park, Andaman, and Nicobar Island
  • First Marine National Park: Gulf of Kutchh National Park
  • Floating National Park: Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur

List of National Parks of India

National Parks in India

Complete list of National Parks in India: State-wise

NameState
South Button Island National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Saddle Peak National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Rani Jhansi Marine National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
North Button Island National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Mount Harriet National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Galathea National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Campbell Bay National ParkAndaman and Nicobar Islands
Sri Venkateswara National ParkAndhra Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Rameswaram)Andhra Pradesh
Papikonda National ParkAndhra Pradesh
Namdapha National ParkArunachal Pradesh
Mouling National ParkArunachal Pradesh
Orang National ParkAssam
Nameri National ParkAssam
Manas National ParkAssam
Kaziranga National ParkAssam
Dibru-Saikhowa National ParkAssam
Dehing Patkai National ParkAssam
Raimona National ParkAssam
Valmiki National ParkBihar
Kanger Ghati National ParkChhattisgarh
Indravati National ParkChhattisgarh
Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National ParkChhattisgarh
Mollem National ParkGoa
Vansda National ParkGujarat
Marine National Park, Gulf of KutchGujarat
Gir Forest National ParkGujarat
Blackbuck National Park, VelavadarGujarat
Sultanpur National ParkHaryana
Kalesar National ParkHaryana
Simbalbara National ParkHimachal Pradesh
Pin Valley National ParkHimachal Pradesh
Khirganga National ParkHimachal Pradesh
Inderkilla National ParkHimachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National ParkHimachal Pradesh
Salim Ali National ParkJammu and Kashmir
Kishtwar National ParkJammu and Kashmir
Dachigam National ParkJammu and Kashmir
Kazinag National ParkJammu and Kashmir
Betla National ParkJharkhand
Nagarhole National ParkKarnataka
Kudremukh National ParkKarnataka
Bannerghatta National ParkKarnataka
Bandipur National ParkKarnataka
Anshi National ParkKarnataka
Silent Valley National ParkKerala
Periyar National ParkKerala
Pambadum Shola National ParkKerala
Mathikettan Shola National ParkKerala
Eravikulam National ParkKerala
Anamudi Shola National ParkKerala
Hemis National ParkLadakh
Van Vihar National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Satpura National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Sanjay National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Pench National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Panna National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Mandla Plant Fossils National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Dinosaur Fossils (Ghughua) National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Madhav National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Kuno National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Kanha National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Tadoba National ParkMaharashtra
Sanjay Gandhi National ParkMaharashtra
Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) NPMaharashtra
Navegaon National ParkMaharashtra
Gugamal National ParkMaharashtra
Chandoli National ParkMaharashtra
Sirohi National ParkManipur
Keibul Lamjao National ParkManipur
Nokrek National ParkMeghalaya
Balphakram National ParkMeghalaya
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National ParkMizoram
Murlen National ParkMizoram
Ntangki National ParkNagaland
Simlipal National ParkOdisha
Bhitarkanika National ParkOdisha
Sariska Tiger ReserveRajasthan
Ranthambore National ParkRajasthan
Mukundra Hills National ParkRajasthan
Keoladeo National ParkRajasthan
Desert National ParkRajasthan
Khangchendzonga National ParkSikkim
Mukurthi National ParkTamil Nadu
Mudumalai National ParkTamil Nadu
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National ParkTamil Nadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National ParkTamil Nadu
Guindy National ParkTamil Nadu
Mrugavani National ParkTelangana
Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National ParkTelangana
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National ParkTelangana
Clouded Leopard National ParkTripura
Bison (Rajbari) National ParkTripura
Dudhwa National ParkUttar Pradesh
Valley of Flowers National ParkUttarakhand
Rajaji National ParkUttarakhand
Nanda Devi National ParkUttarakhand
Jim Corbett National ParkUttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar National ParkUttarakhand
Gangotri National ParkUttarakhand
Sundarbans National ParkWest Bengal
Singalila National ParkWest Bengal
Neora Valley National ParkWest Bengal
Jaldapara National ParkWest Bengal
Gorumara National ParkWest Bengal
Buxa Tiger ReserveWest Bengal

Top ten Largest National Parks in India

RANKNAMEESTABLISHEDAREA IN SQ KMSTATEFAMOUS FOR
1Hemis National Park19814400LadhakSnow Leopards
2Desert National Park19813162RajasthanGreat Indian Bustard
3Simlipal National Park19802750OdishaRoyal Bengal Tiger and Asian elephant
4Gangotri National Park19892390UttarakhandGaumukh Glacier
5Namdapha National Park19741985.23Arunachal PradeshFlora and Fauna
6Khangchendzonga National Park19771784SikkimUNESCO World Heritage Site
7Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) National Park19811440.71ChhattisgarhTiger
8Gir Forest National Park19651412GujaratAsiatic lion
9Sundarbans National Park19841330.12West BengalUNESCO World Heritage Site, Royal Bengal Tiger
10Jim Corbett National Park19361318.5UttarakhandFirst national park of India

National Parks and their famous animals

Animal/BirdPredominant in Sanctuary/ReserveState
Wild AssRann of Kutch Wild Ass SanctuaryGujarat
One horned RhinocerosKaziranga National ParkAssam
ElephantsPeriyar National ParkKerala
Asiatic LionsGir National ParkGujarat
Great Indian BustardGhatigaon Wildlife Sanctuary & Desert National ParkMadhya Pradesh & Rajasthan
Royal Bengal TigerSunderbans National ParkWest Bengal
Olive Ridley TurtleGahirmatha Turtle SanctuaryOrissa
DolphinsVikramshila Gangetic Dolphin SanctuaryBhagalpur, Bihar
VultureRamdevarabetta Vulture SanctuaryKarnataka
BearDaroji Bear SanctuaryHampi, Karnataka
SangaiKeibul Lamjao National ParkLoktak Lake (Bishnupur), Manipur
Barasingha (Swamp deer)Kanha National ParkMadhya Pradesh
Siberian cranesKeoladeo national parkRajasthan (Bharatpur)
Jerdon’s CourserSri Lankamaleswara Wildlife SanctuaryAndhra Pradesh
GharialNational Chambal SanctuaryU.P., Rajasthan, and M.P.
Grizzled Giant SquirrelSrivilliputhur Wildlife SanctuaryVirudhinagar & Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Clouded LeopardClouded Leopard National ParkTripura
Snow LeopardHemis National ParkLadakh
Hoolock GibbonHoollongapar Gibbon SanctuaryAssam
Golden langurChakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary & Raimona National ParkAssam
Hangul (Kashmir Stag)Dachigam SanctuaryJammu and Kashmir
Nilgiri TahrEravikulam National ParkKerala
Red PandaKhangchendzonga National ParkSikkim

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Mukesh prajapati

Very good content. really very helpful.

Mamta

Awesome

subham yadav

enough nice

prathyusha

superab content

Anup Chanda

Very very useful contents for any kind of competitive exams. Thanks a lot sir 🙏

sudipta

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Sharwan

Desert Nation Park isn’t a National Park. It is a centuary located in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan
State bird of Rajasthan Godawan or the great Indian Busturd and peewana Snake are found here.

Rohan

First chk ur facts then correct others
Desert National Park is a national park situated in the Indian state of Rajasthan, near the towns of Jaisalmer and Barmer. This is one of the largest national parks, covering an area of 3162 km². The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert.

ANJALI

great content

gurleen

nice

Narayan Barman

Awesome

Sayooj

Nice sir

shivani chaudhary

Thank you for such good content. its very helpful.

Kiran

Can you explain the importance of national parks in India in a proper UPSC answer format?