How Many National Parks in India in 2026: 106 or 107?
India has 106 national parks in the official list of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) EIACP centre, which works for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). They cover 44,402.95 sq km, about 1.35% of India's area. A PIB release of 16 March 2026 also uses the figure of 106 national parks, so 106 is the safest exam answer in 2026.
Why do some 2026 pages say 107? Two reasons:
- Similipal (Odisha) got its final national park notification on 24 April 2025, and the Odisha government called it the "107th". But WII had already counted Similipal (845.70 sq km) in its list of 106.
- Sikhna Jwhwlao (Assam), 316.29 sq km in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts, was notified by Assam in March 2025. It is not yet in the WII table (last updated 20 February 2025). Count it and you get 107, with Assam at 8.
Key takeaway for SSC and bank exams: 106 national parks (WII/MoEFCC), area 44,402.95 sq km (1.35%). First = Corbett (Hailey), 1936, Uttarakhand. Largest = Hemis, Ladakh (3,350 sq km). Smallest in the WII list = Fossil (Ghughua) NP, Madhya Pradesh (0.27 sq km). Most parks = Madhya Pradesh (11). Newest = Sikhna Jwhwlao, Assam (March 2025). If an option shows 107 and not 106, the setter is counting Sikhna Jwhwlao.
Every row below was copied from the WII EIACP "List of National Parks (As on February, 2025)" on 17 October 2026, and the totals were re-added in Python (106 rows, 44,402.94 sq km). Also revise our tiger reserves in India 2026 and biosphere reserves in India 2026, because one park can sit inside all three lists.
National Parks in India 2026: Quick Facts Table
| Fact | Answer (as on 17 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Total national parks (WII / MoEFCC) | 106 |
| Total area | 44,402.95 sq km (1.35% of India) |
| States / UTs with a national park | 30 |
| First national park | Hailey NP (1936), now Jim Corbett NP, Uttarakhand |
| Largest | Hemis, Ladakh (3,350 sq km) |
| Second largest | Desert NP, Rajasthan (3,162 sq km) |
| Smallest (WII list) | Fossil NP (Ghughua), Madhya Pradesh (0.27 sq km) |
| State with most national parks | Madhya Pradesh (11) |
| Second | Assam (7 in WII list; 8 with Sikhna Jwhwlao) |
| Newest notified | Sikhna Jwhwlao, Assam (March 2025) |
| Odisha's newest | Similipal (final notification 24 April 2025) |
| States / UTs with none in the list | Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu |
| Law | Section 35, Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (state government notifies) |
| Total protected areas (WII, Nov 2023) | 1,014 (106 NPs, 573 sanctuaries, 115 conservation reserves, 220 community reserves) |
State-Wise List of National Parks in India 2026
This is the table students search most ("national parks in India list state wise", "how many national parks in Madhya Pradesh"). The state counts come straight from the WII list and add up to 106.
| State / UT | Number | National parks |
|---|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | 11 | Bandhavgarh, Dinosaur Fossils, Fossil, Pench, Kanha, Kuno, Madhav, Panna, Sanjay, Satpura, Van Vihar |
| Assam | 7 | Dibru-Saikhowa, Dihing Patkai, Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Rajiv Gandhi (Orang), Raimona |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 6 | Campbell Bay, Galathea Bay, Mahatma Gandhi Marine (Wandoor), Mount Harriett, Rani Jhansi Marine, Saddle Peak |
| Kerala | 6 | Anamudi Shola, Eravikulam, Mathikettan Shola, Pambadum Shola, Periyar, Silent Valley |
| Maharashtra | 6 | Chandoli, Gugamal, Nawegaon, Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru), Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli), Tadoba |
| Uttarakhand | 6 | Corbett, Gangotri, Govind, Nanda Devi, Rajaji, Valley of Flowers |
| West Bengal | 6 | Buxa, Gorumara, Jaldapara, Neora Valley, Singalila, Sunderban |
| Himachal Pradesh | 5 | Great Himalayan, Inderkilla, Khirganga, Pin Valley, Col. Sherjung Simbalbara |
| Karnataka | 5 | Anshi, Bandipur, Bannerghatta, Kudremukh, Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) |
| Rajasthan | 5 | Desert, Keoladeo Ghana, Mukundra Hills, Ranthambhore, Sariska |
| Tamil Nadu | 5 | Guindy, Gulf of Mannar Marine, Indira Gandhi (Annamalai), Mudumalai, Mukurthi |
| Gujarat | 4 | Blackbuck (Velavadar), Gir, Marine (Gulf of Kachchh), Vansda |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 4 | City Forest (Salim Ali), Dachigam, Kazinag, Kishtwar High Altitude |
| Andhra Pradesh | 3 | Papikonda, Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram), Sri Venkateswara |
| Chhattisgarh | 3 | Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay), Indravati (Kutru), Kanger Valley |
| Telangana | 3 | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali, Mrugavani |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2 | Mouling, Namdapha |
| Haryana | 2 | Kalesar, Sultanpur |
| Manipur | 2 | Keibul-Lamjao, Shiroi |
| Meghalaya | 2 | Balphakram, Nokrek Ridge |
| Mizoram | 2 | Murlen, Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) |
| Odisha | 2 | Bhitarkanika, Similipal |
| Tripura | 2 | Clouded Leopard, Bison (Rajbari) |
| Bihar | 1 | Valmiki |
| Goa | 1 | Mollem |
| Jharkhand | 1 | Betla |
| Ladakh | 1 | Hemis |
| Nagaland | 1 | Intanki |
| Sikkim | 1 | Khangchendzonga |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1 | Dudhwa |
Add Sikhna Jwhwlao to Assam if your exam counts notifications after February 2025.
Which state has the most national parks in India?
Madhya Pradesh, with 11: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay, Madhav, Kuno, Van Vihar, Fossil (Ghughua) and Dinosaur Fossils. Assam is second.
Complete List of 106 National Parks with Year and Area (WII)
"Year" is the year of creation in the WII table. For Similipal the table shows 1980 (first proposal); its final notification came only in April 2025. Names are as WII writes them, so you may see Annamalai for Anamalai or Simlipal for Similipal in exam options.
| # | National park | State / UT | Year (WII) | Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papikonda | Andhra Pradesh | 2008 | 1,012.86 |
| 2 | Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) | Andhra Pradesh | 2005 | 2.40 |
| 3 | Sri Venkateswara | Andhra Pradesh | 1989 | 353.62 |
| 4 | Mouling | Arunachal Pradesh | 1986 | 483.00 |
| 5 | Namdapha | Arunachal Pradesh | 1983 | 1,807.82 |
| 6 | Dibru-Saikhowa | Assam | 1999 | 340.00 |
| 7 | Dihing Patkai | Assam | 2021 | 234.26 |
| 8 | Kaziranga | Assam | 1974 | 889.51 |
| 9 | Manas | Assam | 1990 | 500.00 |
| 10 | Nameri | Assam | 1998 | 200.00 |
| 11 | Rajiv Gandhi (Orang) | Assam | 1999 | 78.81 |
| 12 | Raimona | Assam | 2021 | 422.00 |
| 13 | Valmiki | Bihar | 1989 | 335.65 |
| 14 | Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) | Chhattisgarh | 1981 | 1,440.71 |
| 15 | Indravati (Kutru) | Chhattisgarh | 1982 | 1,258.37 |
| 16 | Kanger Valley | Chhattisgarh | 1982 | 200.00 |
| 17 | Mollem | Goa | 1992 | 107.00 |
| 18 | Blackbuck (Velavadar) | Gujarat | 1976 | 34.53 |
| 19 | Gir | Gujarat | 1975 | 258.71 |
| 20 | Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) | Gujarat | 1982 | 162.89 |
| 21 | Vansda | Gujarat | 1979 | 23.99 |
| 22 | Kalesar | Haryana | 2003 | 46.82 |
| 23 | Sultanpur | Haryana | 1989 | 1.43 |
| 24 | Great Himalayan | Himachal Pradesh | 1984 | 754.40 |
| 25 | Inderkilla | Himachal Pradesh | 2010 | 94.00 |
| 26 | Khirganga | Himachal Pradesh | 2010 | 705.00 |
| 27 | Pin Valley | Himachal Pradesh | 1987 | 675.00 |
| 28 | Col. Sherjung Simbalbara | Himachal Pradesh | 2010 | 27.88 |
| 29 | Betla | Jharkhand | 1986 | 226.33 |
| 30 | Anshi | Karnataka | 1987 | 417.34 |
| 31 | Bandipur | Karnataka | 1974 | 872.24 |
| 32 | Bannerghatta | Karnataka | 1974 | 260.51 |
| 33 | Kudremukh | Karnataka | 1987 | 600.57 |
| 34 | Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) | Karnataka | 1988 | 643.39 |
| 35 | Anamudi Shola | Kerala | 2003 | 7.50 |
| 36 | Eravikulam | Kerala | 1978 | 97.00 |
| 37 | Mathikettan Shola | Kerala | 2003 | 12.82 |
| 38 | Pambadum Shola | Kerala | 2003 | 1.32 |
| 39 | Periyar | Kerala | 1982 | 350.00 |
| 40 | Silent Valley | Kerala | 1984 | 89.52 |
| 41 | Bandhavgarh | Madhya Pradesh | 1968 | 448.84 |
| 42 | Dinosaur Fossils | Madhya Pradesh | 2011 | 0.90 |
| 43 | Fossil | Madhya Pradesh | 1983 | 0.27 |
| 44 | Pench | Madhya Pradesh | 1975 | 292.86 |
| 45 | Kanha | Madhya Pradesh | 1955 | 941.79 |
| 46 | Kuno | Madhya Pradesh | 2018 | 748.76 |
| 47 | Madhav | Madhya Pradesh | 1959 | 375.23 |
| 48 | Panna | Madhya Pradesh | 1981 | 542.66 |
| 49 | Sanjay | Madhya Pradesh | 1981 | 464.64 |
| 50 | Satpura | Madhya Pradesh | 1981 | 528.73 |
| 51 | Van Vihar | Madhya Pradesh | 1979 | 4.45 |
| 52 | Chandoli | Maharashtra | 2004 | 317.67 |
| 53 | Gugamal | Maharashtra | 1975 | 361.28 |
| 54 | Nawegaon | Maharashtra | 1975 | 133.88 |
| 55 | Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) | Maharashtra | 1975 | 257.26 |
| 56 | Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) | Maharashtra | 1983 | 86.96 |
| 57 | Tadoba | Maharashtra | 1955 | 116.55 |
| 58 | Keibul-Lamjao | Manipur | 1977 | 40.00 |
| 59 | Shiroi | Manipur | 1982 | 100.00 |
| 60 | Balphakram | Meghalaya | 1986 | 220.00 |
| 61 | Nokrek Ridge | Meghalaya | 1997 | 47.48 |
| 62 | Murlen | Mizoram | 2003 | 100.00 |
| 63 | Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) | Mizoram | 1997 | 50.00 |
| 64 | Intanki | Nagaland | 1993 | 202.02 |
| 65 | Bhitarkanika | Odisha | 1988 | 145.00 |
| 66 | Similipal (Simlipal) | Odisha | 1980 | 845.70 |
| 67 | Desert | Rajasthan | 1992 | 3,162.00 |
| 68 | Keoladeo Ghana | Rajasthan | 1981 | 28.73 |
| 69 | Mukundra Hills | Rajasthan | 2006 | 200.54 |
| 70 | Ranthambhore | Rajasthan | 1980 | 282.00 |
| 71 | Sariska | Rajasthan | 1992 | 273.80 |
| 72 | Khangchendzonga | Sikkim | 1977 | 1,784.00 |
| 73 | Guindy | Tamil Nadu | 1976 | 2.71 |
| 74 | Gulf of Mannar Marine | Tamil Nadu | 1980 | 526.02 |
| 75 | Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) | Tamil Nadu | 1989 | 117.10 |
| 76 | Mudumalai | Tamil Nadu | 1990 | 103.23 |
| 77 | Mukurthi | Tamil Nadu | 1990 | 78.46 |
| 78 | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy | Telangana | 1994 | 1.43 |
| 79 | Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali | Telangana | 1994 | 14.59 |
| 80 | Mrugavani | Telangana | 1994 | 3.60 |
| 81 | Clouded Leopard | Tripura | 2007 | 5.08 |
| 82 | Bison (Rajbari) | Tripura | 2007 | 31.63 |
| 83 | Dudhwa | Uttar Pradesh | 1977 | 490.00 |
| 84 | Corbett | Uttarakhand | 1936 | 520.82 |
| 85 | Gangotri | Uttarakhand | 1989 | 2,390.02 |
| 86 | Govind | Uttarakhand | 1990 | 472.08 |
| 87 | Nanda Devi | Uttarakhand | 1982 | 624.60 |
| 88 | Rajaji | Uttarakhand | 1983 | 820.00 |
| 89 | Valley of Flowers | Uttarakhand | 1982 | 87.50 |
| 90 | Buxa | West Bengal | 1992 | 117.10 |
| 91 | Gorumara | West Bengal | 1992 | 79.45 |
| 92 | Jaldapara | West Bengal | 2014 | 216.34 |
| 93 | Neora Valley | West Bengal | 1986 | 159.89 |
| 94 | Singalila | West Bengal | 1986 | 78.60 |
| 95 | Sunderban | West Bengal | 1984 | 1,330.10 |
| 96 | Campbell Bay | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1992 | 426.23 |
| 97 | Galathea Bay | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1992 | 110.00 |
| 98 | Mahatma Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1983 | 281.50 |
| 99 | Mount Harriett | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1987 | 46.62 |
| 100 | Rani Jhansi Marine | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1996 | 320.06 |
| 101 | Saddle Peak | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1987 | 32.54 |
| 102 | City Forest (Salim Ali) | Jammu & Kashmir | 1992 | 9.07 |
| 103 | Dachigam | Jammu & Kashmir | 1981 | 141.00 |
| 104 | Kazinag | Jammu & Kashmir | 2000 | 90.88 |
| 105 | Kishtwar High Altitude | Jammu & Kashmir | 1981 | 2,191.50 |
| 106 | Hemis | Ladakh | 1981 | 3,350.00 |
First, Oldest and Newest National Parks in India
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| First national park of India | Hailey National Park (1936), later renamed Ramganga NP and then Jim Corbett NP (1957) |
| Where is it? | Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts, Uttarakhand |
| Oldest after Corbett (WII years) | Kanha (1955) and Tadoba (1955), then Madhav (1959) |
| First marine national park | Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat (1982) |
| Newest national park | Sikhna Jwhwlao, Assam (March 2025) |
| Newest in Odisha | Similipal (24 April 2025) |
| Newest in the WII table by year | Dihing Patkai and Raimona, Assam (2021) |
| Cheetah reintroduction | Kuno NP, Madhya Pradesh (17 September 2022) |
Largest National Park in India (Top 5 by Area)
| Rank | National park | State / UT | Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hemis | Ladakh | 3,350.00 |
| 2 | Desert | Rajasthan | 3,162.00 |
| 3 | Gangotri | Uttarakhand | 2,390.02 |
| 4 | Kishtwar High Altitude | Jammu & Kashmir | 2,191.50 |
| 5 | Namdapha | Arunachal Pradesh | 1,807.82 |
Many pages still write "Jim Corbett is the largest". It is the oldest, not the largest: Corbett NP is 520.82 sq km.
Smallest National Park in India (WII List)
| Rank | National park | State / UT | Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fossil | Madhya Pradesh | 0.27 |
| 2 | Dinosaur Fossils | Madhya Pradesh | 0.90 |
| 3 | Pambadum Shola | Kerala | 1.32 |
| 4 | Kasu Brahmananda Reddy | Telangana | 1.43 |
| 5 | Sultanpur | Haryana | 1.43 |
Older books give South Button Island (Andaman) as the smallest. The Button Island parks do not appear in the current WII list, where Andaman & Nicobar has 6 parks. For a 2026 exam, follow the WII list unless the option set clearly uses the old one.
Famous National Parks and What They Are Known For
| National park | State / UT | Famous for |
|---|---|---|
| Kaziranga | Assam | One-horned rhinoceros; UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Gir | Gujarat | Only wild home of the Asiatic lion |
| Keibul-Lamjao | Manipur | Floating park on Loktak Lake (phumdis); sangai deer |
| Hemis | Ladakh | Snow leopard; largest national park |
| Dachigam | Jammu & Kashmir | Hangul (Kashmir stag) |
| Eravikulam | Kerala | Nilgiri tahr; Neelakurinji blooms |
| Silent Valley | Kerala | Lion-tailed macaque; tropical evergreen forest |
| Keoladeo Ghana | Rajasthan | Bird sanctuary (Bharatpur); UNESCO site; Ramsar site |
| Desert | Rajasthan | Great Indian Bustard |
| Sunderban | West Bengal | Royal Bengal tiger in mangroves; UNESCO site |
| Bhitarkanika | Odisha | Saltwater crocodile; mangroves |
| Kuno | Madhya Pradesh | Cheetah reintroduction (2022) |
| Blackbuck (Velavadar) | Gujarat | Blackbuck grasslands |
| Manas | Assam | Golden langur, pygmy hog; UNESCO site |
| Namdapha | Arunachal Pradesh | Four big cats (tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard) |
| Valley of Flowers / Nanda Devi | Uttarakhand | Alpine flower meadows; UNESCO site (with Nanda Devi) |
| Great Himalayan | Himachal Pradesh | Western tragopan; UNESCO site |
| Khangchendzonga | Sikkim | India's first "mixed" UNESCO site (natural + cultural) |
| Shiroi | Manipur | Shirui lily |
| Dudhwa | Uttar Pradesh | Swamp deer (barasingha) |
For the full UNESCO list, see our UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2026 note.
National Park vs Wildlife Sanctuary vs Tiger Reserve
| Point | National park | Wildlife sanctuary | Tiger reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section of WPA 1972 | Section 35 | Section 18 (final under 26A) | Section 38V |
| Notified by | State government | State government | State government, on NTCA's advice |
| Human rights inside | Not allowed (no grazing, no private rights) | Some activities allowed by the Chief Wildlife Warden | Core kept inviolate; buffer allows people |
| Count in 2026 | 106 | 573 (WII 2023; PIB March 2026 says 574) | 58 |
| Can boundary be changed? | Only on the National Board for Wildlife's recommendation | Same rule | Same, plus NTCA's advice |
How to Remember National Parks State-Wise (Tricks)
- "MP = 11, Assam = 7": Madhya Pradesh leads because it counts two tiny fossil parks (Ghughua and Dinosaur Fossils, Dhar) and Van Vihar (Bhopal).
- Kerala's 3 Sholas: Anamudi, Mathikettan and Pambadum Shola were all created in 2003 in Idukki district.
- Telangana's 3 city parks: Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali and Mrugavani are all in or near Hyderabad (1994).
- Two "Pench" parks: one in Madhya Pradesh (Priyadarshini), one in Maharashtra (Jawaharlal Nehru). Same for "Sanjay": Sanjay NP (MP), Sanjay Gandhi NP (Mumbai), Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) NP (Chhattisgarh).
- Three "Rajiv Gandhi" parks: Rameswaram (Andhra Pradesh), Orang (Assam), Nagarahole (Karnataka).
Common Mistakes in National Park Questions
- Writing 107 because Similipal is "107th". WII had already counted Similipal; the 107 comes only if you add Sikhna Jwhwlao.
- Calling Jim Corbett the largest. It is the first (1936); Hemis is the largest.
- Calling South Button Island the smallest from old lists. It is not in the current WII list.
- Mixing up Gulf of Mannar Marine NP (Tamil Nadu) and Marine NP, Gulf of Kachchh (Gujarat). The Gujarat one is the first marine national park.
- Putting Keibul-Lamjao in Assam. It is in Manipur, on Loktak Lake, which is also a Ramsar site.
National Parks Questions with Answers (Practice Set)
- How many national parks are there in India as per WII (2026)? Answer: 106.
- Which was the first national park of India? Answer: Hailey National Park (1936), now Jim Corbett NP, Uttarakhand.
- Which is the largest national park in India? Answer: Hemis, Ladakh (3,350 sq km).
- Which state has the highest number of national parks? Answer: Madhya Pradesh (11).
- Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park is in which state? Answer: Assam (Kokrajhar and Chirang).
- Keibul-Lamjao, the floating national park, is in which state? Answer: Manipur.
- In which national park were cheetahs reintroduced in 2022? Answer: Kuno, Madhya Pradesh.
- Hangul is found in which national park? Answer: Dachigam, Jammu & Kashmir.
- Under which section of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is a national park declared? Answer: Section 35.
- Eravikulam National Park is famous for which animal? Answer: Nilgiri tahr.
Practise mixed environment and static GK in the SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 06 and SSC CHSL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 03.
National Parks in India FAQs
How many national parks are there in India in 2026?
106, as per the Wildlife Institute of India and MoEFCC, covering 44,402.95 sq km (1.35% of India). Sikhna Jwhwlao in Assam, notified in March 2025, would make it 107 once added to the official list.
Which is the first national park of India?
Hailey National Park, set up in 1936 in present-day Uttarakhand. It is now called Jim Corbett National Park.
Which is the largest national park in India?
Hemis National Park in Ladakh, with an area of 3,350 sq km. Desert National Park in Rajasthan (3,162 sq km) is second.
Which is the smallest national park in India?
In the current WII list, the Fossil (Ghughua) National Park in Madhya Pradesh, at 0.27 sq km. Old books give South Button Island, which is not in the current list.
Which state has the most national parks in India?
Madhya Pradesh, with 11 national parks. Assam is second, with 7 in the WII list (8 including Sikhna Jwhwlao).
Which is the newest national park in India?
Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in Assam, notified in March 2025. Similipal in Odisha received its final notification in April 2025.
Practice Next
- New SSC CGL practice: SSC CGL Geography Mock Test 01.
- Mock tests: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 06, SSC CHSL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 03 , RRB NTPC General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01 and RRB NTPC General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 02.
- Related notes: tiger reserves in India 2026, biosphere reserves in India 2026, Ramsar sites in India 2026 list, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India 2026, Indian rivers origin and end list and mountain passes of India list.
- Exam details: SSC CGL 2026.
- Browse all study notes.