The Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands: lakes, marshes, mangroves, lagoons and similar places. It was signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, a town in Iran, which is why it is called the Ramsar Convention. Countries that join list their most important wetlands as 'Wetlands of International Importance', usually called Ramsar sites.
Key facts
- Signed on 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; 2 February is World Wetlands Day.
- Entered into force for India on 1 February 1982 (signed 1 October 1981).
- India's first Ramsar sites were Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan).
- The Montreux Record lists Ramsar sites under threat; Keoladeo and Loktak Lake (Manipur) are India's entries. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Latest
Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel were added on 15 October 2026, taking India to 103 Ramsar sites.
Why exams ask about it
New Indian sites are added every few months, so the count, the newest sites and the first sites come up in GK sections every year.
Pakka yaad trick
Ramsar (Iran, 2 Feb 1971) = Wetlands Day on 2 Feb; India's first two were Chilika and Keoladeo; Montreux Record holds Keoladeo and Loktak.