Sukhna and Sauj additions bring India’s announced Ramsar tally to 103
The 15 October announcement adds Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel. Keep the wetland locations and announcement date with the updated tally.
The Environment Ministry announced on 15 October 2026 that India’s Ramsar tally had reached 103 with Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh added to the list. This report records that dated announcement, not an undated permanent total.
The original announcement
The ministry’s notice attributes the announcement to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and names both wetlands. Its focus is international wetland recognition and the ecological, climate and livelihood importance of these ecosystems.
The Indian Express’s Chandigarh report, published on 16 October, independently describes Sukhna’s addition and identifies its Ramsar site number as 2602. It explains that Ramsar sites are Wetlands of International Importance under the convention established in 1971.
Keep the locations straight
Sukhna is in Chandigarh, while Sauj Jheel is in Uttar Pradesh. A revision note that exchanges the locations would lose the most useful geographical distinction in the announcement.
The national count and an individual site number are also different. The tally of 103 describes India’s announced total; Sukhna’s site number identifies it within the international list. They should not be treated as competing counts.
Recognition and conservation
The announcement brings attention to wetland protection, but recognition and ecological condition are different questions. Following conservation requires information about habitat, water, wildlife and management over time, alongside designation.
When sharing the update, retain 15 October as the announcement date and identify this article’s publication as 17 October. Avoid guessing a historical designation date from the date a newspaper story appeared. The linked original notice is the basis for the national tally used here.
Publication disclosure
This article was researched and published with AI assistance. No human prepublication review is claimed. Report factual errors through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the two wetlands?
Sukhna Wetland is in Chandigarh; Sauj Jheel is in Uttar Pradesh.
Is 2602 India’s Ramsar count?
No. The Indian Express identifies 2602 as Sukhna’s site number; the ministry’s dated national tally is 103.