National Parks of India: Enhancing Biodiversity Protection and Boosting Eco-Tourism

National Parks of India: Complete Guide to Biodiversity Protection and Eco-Tourism (2026)

India's national parks are among the most ecologically significant protected areas on the planet, sheltering thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth. As climate change accelerates habitat loss and biodiversity decline across South Asia, these parks have moved from conservation footnotes to front-line policy priorities. For students, competitive exam aspirants, and working professionals across Assam and Northeast India, understanding national parks is no longer optional — it is a recurring fixture in APSC, ADRE, and UPSC examinations and a rapidly growing career domain. Tracking current affairs for APSC and ADRE now routinely includes new park notifications, UNESCO designations, and conservation policy shifts.

This article covers the complete legal framework, state-wise list, biodiversity role, and eco-tourism significance of national parks in India — with dedicated focus on Assam's protected area network, including the newly notified Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park (2025).

What Are National Parks in India?

National parks in India are legally protected natural areas notified by the central government specifically for wildlife and ecosystem conservation, where human activities such as hunting, livestock grazing, private land use, and commercial forestry are strictly prohibited or heavily regulated.

They are established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — the primary statute governing wildlife conservation in India. Once an area is declared a national park under this Act, its boundaries cannot be altered without a resolution of the State Legislature. This makes national parks the most legally protected category of wildlife area in the country, distinct from wildlife sanctuaries and conservation reserves where some human use may be permitted.

Policy oversight falls under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, while day-to-day administration is managed by respective State Forest Departments. India currently has over 100 notified national parks covering approximately 1.5% of the country's total geographical area (Source: MoEFCC, 2025).

Why National Parks Matter in 2026

India is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, hosting nearly 8% of all known global species despite occupying just 2.4% of the Earth's land area (Source: Ministry of Environment, 2024). This extraordinary biological wealth is under sustained pressure from urbanisation, infrastructure expansion, and erratic monsoon patterns linked to climate change.

National parks act as in-situ conservation zones — areas where species are protected within their natural habitats rather than in captivity. They safeguard breeding populations of flagship species such as the Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, and Gangetic river dolphin. Beyond wildlife, these parks protect watersheds, carbon sinks, and soil systems that sustain agriculture and drinking water for millions of people living around their boundaries.

From an examination perspective, national parks are a high-frequency topic across General Studies, Geography, and Environment sections. Questions routinely test knowledge of park locations, associated species, UNESCO status, and recent policy developments — particularly those involving Assam and Northeast India.

Key Facts About National Parks of India

• India has over 100 notified national parks as of 2025 (Source: Wildlife Institute of India).
• They cover approximately 44,378 sq km, or about 1.35% of India's geographical area.
• National parks fall under the strictest protection category under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Private land rights, grazing, and forestry are not permitted inside national parks.
• Their boundaries can only be altered by a resolution of the State Legislature — unlike wildlife sanctuaries.
• India's first national park was Jim Corbett National Park (then Hailey National Park), established in 1936 in Uttarakhand.
• Six Indian national parks hold UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
• Assam has eight national parks as of 2025, more than any other state in Northeast India.

Complete State-Wise List of National Parks in India

India's national parks span diverse ecological zones — Himalayan high-altitude ecosystems, Indo-Gangetic wetlands, Western Ghats rainforests, Thar desert, Deccan plateau, mangrove coastlines, and island ecosystems. Each park is notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and serves a specific ecological conservation mandate.

National Parks of Assam

Assam hosts eight national parks, making it the most park-dense state in Northeast India. Its parks protect globally significant biodiversity within the Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots.

• Kaziranga National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1985); holds the world's largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis); also a Tiger Reserve. Located in Golaghat and Nagaon districts.
• Manas National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1985); a Project Tiger reserve and biosphere reserve; home to the golden langur and pygmy hog; transboundary park adjoining Bhutan's Royal Manas National Park.
• Nameri National Park — Located in Sonitpur district; important elephant corridor and habitat for the critically endangered white-winged wood duck (Asarcornis scutulata) and hornbill species.
• Orang National Park — Located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Darrang and Sonitpur districts; informally called the "Mini Kaziranga" for its rhinoceros population; also a Tiger Reserve.
• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park — Located in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts; rich wetland and semi-evergreen forest ecosystem; known for feral horses and migratory bird populations.
• Dehing Patkai National Park — Assam's only rainforest national park; notified in 2021; located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts; part of the larger Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve.
• Raimona National Park — Notified in 2021; located in Kokrajhar district; forms a critical corridor within the Indo-Bhutan biodiversity hotspot; habitat of the golden langur and Asian elephant.
• Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park — Assam's newest national park, notified in 2025; located in the Bodoland Territorial Region; adds significant habitat connectivity to Assam's protected area network.

National Parks of Madhya Pradesh

• Kanha National Park — First Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger (1973); credited with saving the barasingha (swamp deer) from extinction; widely regarded as the model for tiger conservation globally.
• Bandhavgarh National Park — One of India's highest tiger densities; located in Umaria district; former hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Rewa.
• Pench National Park — Straddles Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; known for teak forests and healthy predator-prey ratios.
• Satpura National Park — Features rugged terrain including gorges and sandstone peaks; supports leopard, tiger, sloth bear, and Indian giant squirrel populations.
• Sanjay National Park — Located in Sidhi district; habitat of tiger, leopard, and various deer species.

National Parks of Rajasthan

• Ranthambore National Park — One of India's most photographed tiger reserves; located in Sawai Madhopur district; known for tigers that hunt in daylight.
• Sariska National Park — Site of India's first successful tiger relocation programme (2008); located in Alwar district.
• Keoladeo Ghana National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1985); formerly Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary; critical wintering ground for migratory birds including the critically endangered Siberian crane.
• Desert National Park — Largest national park in India by area (3,162 sq km); represents the Thar desert ecosystem; one of the last habitats of the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps).
• Mukundra Hills National Park — Established 2006; Tiger Reserve since 2013; located in Kota and Chittorgarh districts.

National Parks of Uttarakhand

• Jim Corbett National Park — India's oldest national park (1936) and first Project Tiger reserve (1973); located in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts; named after the famous conservationist Jim Corbett.
• Rajaji National Park — Critical elephant corridor between the Shivalik ranges and the western Terai; designated a Tiger Reserve in 2015.
• Valley of Flowers National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1988, as part of Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers); high-altitude Himalayan meadow with exceptional floral diversity.
• Nanda Devi National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site; high-altitude core zone surrounding Nanda Devi peak (7,816 m); one of India's most ecologically intact Himalayan wilderness areas.
• Gangotri National Park — Located in Uttarkashi district; encompasses the upper Bhagirathi River basin and the Gangotri Glacier, one of the primary sources of the Ganga.

National Parks of Karnataka

• Bandipur National Park — Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; shares an open boundary with Nagarhole, Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu), and Wayanad (Kerala) to form one of India's largest contiguous tiger habitats.
• Nagarhole National Park (Rajiv Gandhi National Park) — Dense deciduous forests; one of the highest densities of Asian elephants in the world; also a Tiger Reserve.
• Kudremukh National Park — Core zone of the Western Ghats UNESCO World Heritage cluster; known for shola-grassland ecosystems and as the catchment of three major rivers.
• Anshi (Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve) National Park — Located in Uttara Kannada district; habitat of the rare black panther and great hornbill.

National Parks of Kerala

• Periyar National Park — Located in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts; famous for lake-based elephant and wildlife viewing; one of India's earliest eco-tourism success stories.
• Silent Valley National Park — One of India's last undisturbed tropical rainforests; located in Palakkad district; its conservation in the 1980s became a landmark moment in India's environmental movement.
• Eravikulam National Park — Located in Idukki district; primary habitat of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius); part of the Western Ghats UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Mathikettan Shola National Park — Smallest national park in Kerala; protects shola forest and grassland habitat in the Cardamom Hills.
• Pampadum Shola National Park — High-altitude shola habitat; located in Idukki district.

National Parks of Gujarat

• Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary — The only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) in the world; located in Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Amreli districts; lion population reached 674 as per the 2020 census (Source: Gujarat Forest Department).
• Blackbuck National Park (Velavadar) — Located in Bhavnagar district; one of the highest densities of blackbuck in India; also a significant harrier raptor wintering site.
• Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch — India's first marine national park (notified 1982); protects coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds in the Gulf of Kutch.

National Parks of Maharashtra

• Tadoba-Andhari National Park — Located in Chandrapur district; among India's highest tiger sighting rates, making it a premier eco-tourism destination.
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park — Located entirely within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region; one of the most visited national parks in the world; contains Kanheri Caves, a historic Buddhist site.
• Gugamal National Park — Part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district.
• Navegaon National Park — Located in Gondia district; important wetland habitat.
• Pench National Park — Shared with Madhya Pradesh; known for the landscape that inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

National Parks of West Bengal

• Sundarbans National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1987); world's largest mangrove forest ecosystem; primary habitat of the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris); located in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta.
• Jaldapara National Park — Located in Alipurduar district, West Bengal; second most important rhino habitat in India after Kaziranga; critical for wildlife connectivity with Manas.
• Gorumara National Park — Located in Jalpaiguri district; habitat for the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, and gaur.
• Buxa National Park — Located in Alipurduar district; forms part of the Buxa Tiger Reserve; transboundary wildlife corridor with Bhutan and Assam.
• Singalila National Park — Located in Darjeeling district; high-altitude Himalayan park; habitat of the red panda and snow leopard.
• Neora Valley National Park — Located in Kalimpong district; reportedly the only habitat in India where four wild cat species coexist.

National Parks of Himachal Pradesh

• Great Himalayan National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2014); located in Kullu district; protects the upper catchments of the Beas and Tirthan rivers; habitat of snow leopard and western tragopan.
• Pin Valley National Park — Located in Lahaul and Spiti district; cold desert high-altitude ecosystem; habitat of the snow leopard and Tibetan wolf.
• Khirganga National Park — Located in Kullu district; recently carved out from the Great Himalayan National Park area.
• Simbalbara National Park — Located in Sirmaur district; lowland subtropical park.

National Parks of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

• Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park — Located near Wandoor, South Andaman; one of India's richest coral reef ecosystems.
• Rani Jhansi Marine National Park — North Andaman; marine biodiversity conservation.
• Campbell Bay National Park — Located in Great Nicobar; tropical evergreen forest; part of the UNESCO-listed Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
• Galathea Bay National Park — Located in Great Nicobar; nesting ground of the giant leatherback sea turtle.
• Mount Harriet National Park — Renamed Mount Manipur National Park in 2023; located in South Andaman.
• Saddle Peak National Park — Highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Kampti (South Button Island) National Park — Smallest national park in India.

Other Significant National Parks Across India

• Hemis National Park, Ladakh — Largest national park in India (4,400 sq km); highest density of snow leopards in the world.
• Dachigam National Park, Jammu & Kashmir — Last stronghold of the critically endangered hangul (Kashmir stag).
• Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) National Park, Karnataka — Listed above under Karnataka parks.
• Nokrek National Park, Meghalaya — UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; habitat of the red panda and hoolock gibbon.
• Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur — The world's only floating national park; located on Loktak Lake; last natural habitat of the Sangai (brow-antlered deer).
• Indravati National Park, Chhattisgarh — Last population of wild buffalo in Chhattisgarh; Tiger Reserve.
• Kanger Valley National Park, Chhattisgarh — Known for Kutumsar Caves, one of India's longest natural cave systems.
• Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh — Largest national park in Andhra Pradesh; located along the Godavari River.
• Sri Venkateswara National Park, Andhra Pradesh — Part of the Eastern Ghats; adjacent to Tirupati.
• Murlen National Park, Mizoram — Part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
• Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park, Mizoram — Highest peak in Mizoram (2,157 m); habitat of the clouded leopard.
• Intanki National Park, Nagaland — Habitat of the Blyth's tragopan and clouded leopard.

Assam's New National Park 2025 — Sikhna Jwhwlao

In 2025, the Government of Assam notified the Sikhna Jwhwlao forest region as the state's eighth national park, expanding Assam's protected area network within the Bodoland Territorial Region. The park strengthens habitat connectivity between existing protected areas in western Assam and the transboundary forest corridors linking Bhutan and the Eastern Himalayan foothills.

Assam's decision to expand its protected area system is consistent with national targets under India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commit India to protecting 33% of its land area under forest and tree cover. Assam already hosts globally important conservation landscapes at Kaziranga and Manas, and the addition of Sikhna Jwhwlao strengthens the ecological corridor network of the entire Northeast. Aspirants can follow such developments through Wetlands of India and Assam: Ramsar Sites, Legal Framework, and Conservation Challenges for related environmental topics frequently tested in state exams.

National Parks and Biodiversity Protection: How the System Works

National parks function as anchors within India's broader protected area network, which also includes wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, community reserves, and biosphere reserves. Together, these form a tiered system of habitat protection that allows different levels of human use depending on the category.

Within national parks specifically, the following mechanisms actively protect biodiversity:

• Species-specific conservation programmes: Project Tiger (launched 1973), Project Elephant (launched 1992), and the Indian Rhinoceros Vision 2020 operate primarily within and around national parks.
• Anti-poaching operations: State forest departments deploy forest guards and use technology such as camera traps, drone surveillance, and radio-tracking to monitor wildlife and prevent illegal hunting.
• Habitat management: Controlled water management, grassland restoration, and invasive species removal maintain ecological conditions for target species.
• Buffer zone management: Many national parks are surrounded by eco-sensitive zones or buffer zones where development is regulated to reduce edge effects on the core area.
• Transboundary cooperation: Parks such as Manas (Assam-Bhutan) and Sundarbans (India-Bangladesh) are managed under bilateral agreements that protect species moving across international borders.

India's national park system supports its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), which set international targets for protecting 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030.

National Parks and Eco-Tourism: Balancing Access and Conservation

Eco-tourism — defined as responsible, low-impact travel to natural areas that contributes to conservation and local community welfare — has become an integral part of national park management in India. When properly regulated, eco-tourism generates revenue that directly funds park infrastructure, anti-poaching efforts, and staff salaries.

Key features of regulated eco-tourism in Indian national parks include:

• Entry permits and quotas that cap the number of daily visitors to prevent habitat disturbance.
• Mandatory use of certified naturalist guides, who also serve as on-ground conservation monitors.
• Revenue sharing with forest-fringe communities, creating economic incentives for local support of conservation.
• Zone-based access systems that designate tourism zones separate from core wildlife areas.
• Seasonal closures (typically June to September in most parks) aligned with monsoon and breeding seasons to minimise disturbance.

Parks such as Kaziranga, Ranthambore, Tadoba, and Periyar have demonstrated that well-managed eco-tourism can generate significant conservation co-benefits. Kaziranga, for instance, uses tourism revenue to maintain one of the world's most successful anti-poaching systems — rhino poaching has been dramatically reduced over the past two decades (Source: Assam Forest Department). Students interested in GI-tagged conservation products and sustainable livelihood models connected to protected areas can also explore the GI Tag Explained: Meaning, World & India Framework, and Assam's GI Products (2026 Guide).

National Parks That Are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

Six Indian national parks have received UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, recognising their outstanding universal value for natural heritage:

• Kaziranga National Park (Assam) — Inscribed 1985; one-horned rhinoceros stronghold.
• Manas National Park (Assam) — Inscribed 1985; biodiversity hotspot and transboundary tiger reserve.
• Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Rajasthan) — Inscribed 1985; internationally significant bird habitat.
• Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal) — Inscribed 1987; world's largest mangrove delta ecosystem.
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (Uttarakhand) — Inscribed 1988 (Nanda Devi), extended 2005 (Valley of Flowers).
• Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh) — Inscribed 2014; upper Himalayan watershed and biodiversity conservation.

Common Misunderstandings About National Parks

National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are the same: They are not. Wildlife sanctuaries allow some human activities including regulated grazing and private land ownership within boundaries. National parks permit none of these. The boundary of a national park cannot be altered without a State Legislature resolution, while sanctuary boundaries can be changed by state government notification.

Eco-tourism damages wildlife: Unregulated tourism does. Regulated eco-tourism with enforced visitor quotas, trained guides, and zone-based access has demonstrably supported conservation in parks like Kaziranga and Tadoba by generating funds and community buy-in for conservation.

Local communities are excluded from all benefits: Modern park management in India increasingly incorporates Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and Van Suraksha Samitis (Forest Protection Committees) that provide forest-fringe communities with employment, access to non-timber forest products, and revenue sharing from tourism.

A biosphere reserve is the same as a national park: Biosphere reserves are UNESCO designations that often contain national parks within their core zones, but the two designations operate under different frameworks. A park can be inside a biosphere reserve without the entire biosphere reserve carrying the same legal protection as the park.

Impact on Students, Careers, and Society

For competitive exam aspirants, national parks are a reliable source of static GK and current affairs questions across UPSC, APSC, ADRE, SSC, and state forest service examinations. Map-based questions on park locations, associated species, UNESCO status, and new park notifications appear regularly. Candidates appearing for APSC CCE 2026 and ADRE 3.0 should treat national parks as a high-priority revision topic. Review the APSC CCE 2026: Complete Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Selection Process Explained for integrated preparation guidance.

Career pathways directly connected to national parks include the Indian Forest Service (IFS) — a Group A central service — as well as state forest department positions, wildlife biologists, eco-tourism managers, environmental lawyers, and conservation researchers. Each of these roles is growing in significance as India scales up its protected area commitments under international biodiversity agreements.

For society, national parks deliver measurable ecological services: they regulate local climate, recharge groundwater, prevent soil erosion, and maintain the genetic diversity of crop wild relatives — plants that could prove critical for food security as agricultural systems adapt to a changing climate.

Important Clarification

The total number, boundaries, and protected status of national parks in India can change through official government notifications issued by state governments and the MoEFCC. The count and details in this article reflect publicly available information as of June 2026. Candidates preparing for examinations should verify the latest park list and any reclassifications from the official MoEFCC website (moef.gov.in) and respective State Forest Department portals before their examination date. Use free daily mock tests to reinforce and test your retention of updated facts.

Key Takeaways

• National parks in India are notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — the strictest protected area category in Indian law.
• India has over 100 national parks covering approximately 1.5% of the country's geographical area as of 2025.
• Assam has eight national parks, including the newly notified Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park (2025), making it a critical state for Northeast biodiversity conservation.
• Six Indian national parks have UNESCO World Heritage Site status: Kaziranga, Manas, Keoladeo, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers, and Great Himalayan.
• National parks cannot have their boundaries altered without a State Legislature resolution — unlike wildlife sanctuaries.
• Hemis National Park in Ladakh is the largest national park in India by area (approximately 4,400 sq km).
• Regulated eco-tourism is permitted within designated zones of national parks and supports conservation funding and local employment.
• India's national park system supports commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022).

Official Sources and References

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India — moef.gov.in
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun — wii.gov.in
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre — whc.unesco.org
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — ntca.gov.in
• Assam Forest Department — assamforest.in
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — as amended through the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) — cbd.int

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Under which law are national parks declared in India?

National parks in India are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Once notified, their boundaries cannot be altered without a resolution of the State Legislature, making them the most legally secure protected area category in the country.

2. How many national parks does India have?

India has over 100 notified national parks as of 2025, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The exact number may vary as new parks are occasionally notified.

3. How are national parks different from wildlife sanctuaries?

National parks have stricter legal protection. Inside a national park, all forms of private land ownership, grazing, and commercial forestry are prohibited and boundaries cannot be altered without legislative approval. Wildlife sanctuaries permit some of these activities and can have their boundaries altered by state government notification.

4. How many national parks does Assam have?

Assam has eight national parks as of 2025: Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang, Dibru-Saikhowa, Dehing Patkai, Raimona, and the newly notified Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park.

5. Which is India's oldest national park?

Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand is India's oldest national park, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. It also became India's first Project Tiger reserve in 1973.

6. Which is the largest national park in India?

Hemis National Park in Ladakh, covering approximately 4,400 square kilometres, is the largest national park in India by area. It also reportedly has the highest density of snow leopards in the world.

7. Which Indian national parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Six national parks in India hold UNESCO World Heritage Site status: Kaziranga (Assam), Manas (Assam), Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers (Uttarakhand), and Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh).

8. Is tourism allowed inside national parks?

Yes, but only regulated eco-tourism within designated zones, as approved by the respective state forest departments and the National Board for Wildlife. Core wildlife areas are kept off-limits to tourists, with access restricted to defined safari zones with enforced visitor quotas.

9. What is the significance of Kaziranga National Park for Assam?

Kaziranga National Park is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Tiger Reserve, and it shelters the world's largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. It is Assam's most internationally recognised conservation landmark and a major driver of eco-tourism revenue for the state.

10. What is the Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park and why was it notified?

Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park is Assam's eighth national park, notified in 2025 in the Bodoland Territorial Region. It was established to strengthen habitat connectivity between Assam's existing protected areas and the transboundary forest corridors linking Bhutan, contributing to the broader Eastern Himalayan wildlife corridor network.

11. What is the difference between a national park and a biosphere reserve?

A national park is a legal protected area notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, under Indian law. A biosphere reserve is a UNESCO designation that recognises areas of ecological importance and typically contains a national park or wildlife sanctuary within its core zone, but the two designations operate under different frameworks and legal instruments.

12. How are national parks relevant for APSC and ADRE exams?

National parks appear regularly in General Studies, Environment, and Geography sections of APSC, ADRE, UPSC, and state forest service examinations. Questions typically test park locations by state, flagship species, UNESCO designations, new park notifications, and associated conservation programmes such as Project Tiger and Project Elephant. Assam-specific parks receive special focus in state-level examinations.