📌 Chapter Snapshot
18
Biosphere Reserves of India
58
Tiger Reserves (2025)
3,682
Total Tiger Population
75%
India's Share of World Tigers
- This chapter covers India's Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO's Man and 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 Biosphere Programme (1971).
- Purpose: conservation of ecosystems and their genetic materials.
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) | Karnataka, Kerala |
| 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 of India (1936 AD) → Hailey National Park → later known as Jim Corbett National Park → renamed Ramganga National Park in 2021.
🐅 Tiger Census
3,682
Total Tiger Population
58
Total Tiger Reserves (2025)
75%
India's Share of World Tigers
75,769.83 km²
Total Area Covered
Highest Tiger Population (order)Madhya Pradesh > Karnataka > Uttarakhand
"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 | 1972 |
| Project Tiger | 1973 |
| Crocodile Conservation | 1975 |
| Manipur Thamin Project | 1977 |
| Project Rhino | 1987 |
| Project Elephant | 1992 |
| Project Red Panda | 1994 |
| Project Turtle | 1999 |
| Project Snow Leopard | 2009 |
| Project Great Indian Bustard | 2013 |
⚠ 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, 2025)
| 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 National Park |
| 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-Sanjay Tiger Reserve (Tamor Pingla) |
| Telangana | Kawal Tiger Reserve, Amrabad Tiger Reserve (Biggest Tiger Reserve) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve |
| Maharashtra | Melghat Tiger Reserve, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (oldest in Maharashtra), Pench National Park, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Bor Tiger Reserve (Smallest 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
Amrabad (Telangana) is the Biggest Tiger Reserve while Bor (Maharashtra) is the Smallest — a very commonly asked pair; don't mix up which state has which.
📋 Master Quick-Revision Table
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Biosphere Reserve — Programme | UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme (1971) |
| First Biosphere Reserve of India | Nilgiri (1986) | Karnataka, Kerala |
| 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 National Park (1936) → Jim Corbett → Renamed Ramganga NP in 2021 |
| Estuarine Crocodile Conservation | Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (Odisha) |
| Project Tiger — Launched | 1973 | Jim Corbett National Park |
| Total Tiger Reserves | 58 (as of 2025) |
| Total Tiger Population | 3,682 |
| India's share of world tigers | 75% |
| Tiger Reserves — Total Area | 75,769.83 sq km |
| Highest Tiger Population — State | Madhya Pradesh > Karnataka > Uttarakhand |
| Biggest Tiger Reserve | Amrabad Tiger Reserve (Telangana) |
| Smallest Tiger Reserve | Bor Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) |
| Oldest Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra | Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve |
| Hangul Project | 1970 |
| Project Lion | 1972 |
| Project Tiger | 1973 |
| Crocodile Conservation | 1975 |
| Project Rhino | 1987 |
| Project Elephant | 1992 |
| Project Red Panda | 1994 |
| Project Snow Leopard | 2009 |
| Project Great Indian Bustard | 2013 |