Biosphere Reserves List
Biosphere Reserves in India – Railway Exam Capsule
UNESCO’s Man & Biosphere (MAB) Programme (1971) → Total 738 Biosphere Reserves in 134 countries (May 2024)
India: 18 notified (latest: Panna, 2021) | 12 recognised under UNESCO-MAB World Network
1. What is a Biosphere Reserve?
| Core Zone | Buffer Zone | Transition Zone |
|---|---|---|
| No human activity | Limited research/tourism | Sustainable livelihood, eco-development |
2. Chronology – Key Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1971 | UNESCO launches MAB programme |
| 1986 | India notifies first 5 BRs (Nilgiri, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar) |
| 2000 | Sundarban BR added to UNESCO list |
| 2009 | Pachmarhi BR declared |
| 2011 | Seshachalam BR – first from Andhra Pradesh |
| 2020 | Panna BR included in UNESCO list |
| 2021 | Panna notified as India’s 18th BR |
3. India’s 18 Notified Biosphere Reserves (State-wise)
| # | Name (Year of Notification) | State | Area (km²) | UNESCO-MAB (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nilgiri (1986) | TN-Kerala-Karn | 5,520 | 2000 |
| 2 | Nanda Devi (1988) | Uttarakhand | 2,236 | 2004 (extension 2005) |
| 3 | Nokrek (1988) | Meghalaya | 820 | 2009 |
| 4 | Great Nicobar (1989) | A&N Islands | 885 | 2013 |
| 5 | Gulf of Mannar (1989) | Tamil Nadu | 1,050 | 2001 |
| 6 | Manas (1989) | Assam | 2,837 | — |
| 7 | Sundarban (1989) | West Bengal | 9,630 | 2001 |
| 8 | Similipal (1994) | Odisha | 4,374 | — |
| 9 | Dihang-Dibang (1998) | Arunachal | 5,111 | — |
| 10 | Pachmarhi (1999) | Madhya Pradesh | 4,981 | 2009 |
| 11 | Achanakmar-Amarkantak (2005) | MP-Chhattisgarh | 3,835 | 2012 |
| 12 | Agasthyamalai (2001) | Kerala-TN | 3,500 | 2016 |
| 13 | Khangchendzonga (2000) | Sikkim | 2,617 | 2018 |
| 14 | Dibru-Saikhowa (1997) | Assam | 765 | — |
| 15 | Rann of Kutch (2008) | Gujarat | 12,454 | — |
| 16 | Cold Desert (2009) | Himachal Pradesh | 7,770 | — |
| 17 | Seshachalam (2010) | Andhra Pradesh | 4,755 | — |
| 18 | Panna (2021) | Madhya Pradesh | 2,998 | 2020 |
Largest: Rann of Kutch (12,454 km²)
Smallest: Dibru-Saikhowa (765 km²)
First: Nilgiri (1986)
Latest: Panna (2021)
4. UNESCO World Network BRs – India (12)
- Nilgiri
- Gulf of Mannar
- Sundarban
- Nanda Devi
- Pachmarhi
- Similipal*
- Achanakmar-Amarkantak
- Great Nicobar
- Agasthyamalai
- Khangchendzonga
- Panna
- Nokrek
* Similipal – under UNESCO tentative list (not yet full member).
5. One-Liner Rapid-Fire
- Nilgiri BR – tri-state (TN+Kerala+Karnataka) & first Indian BR in UNESCO list.
- Nanda Devi BR – core area is Nanda Devi National Park (UNESCO WHS-1988).
- Sundarban – only mangrove BR & home to Royal Bengal Tiger.
- Great Nicobar – includes Campbell Bay NP & Galathea NP.
- Khangchendzonga – India’s first “Mixed” UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016).
- Panna – only BR located in Bundelkhand region; Ken River flows through it.
- Cold Desert – Pin Valley NP & Kibber WLS in Himachal.
- Rann of Kutch – largest BR; Indian Wild Ass sanctuary.
- Agasthyamalai – Shendurney & Peppara WLS; part of Western Ghats hotspot.
- Seshachalam – only BR from Andhra Pradesh; Tirumala hills part of it.
6. MCQs for Railway Exams
Click to expand 15 MCQs with answers
Q1. Which was the first Biosphere Reserve of India?
A) Sundarban
B) Nilgiri
C) Nanda Devi
D) Manas
Ans: B
Q2. The largest Biosphere Reserve of India is situated in which state?
A) Rajasthan
B) Gujarat
C) Odisha
D) Madhya Pradesh
Ans: B
Q3. Panna Biosphere Reserve is located along which river?
A) Betwa
B) Ken
C) Tapti
D) Chambal
Ans: B
Q4. Which of the following pairs is incorrect?
A) Nokrek – Meghalaya
B) Similipal – Odisha
C) Manas – Assam
D) Dibru-Saikhowa – Arunachal Pradesh
Ans: D (Assam)
Q5. Khangchendzonga BR is in
A) Sikkim
B) West Bengal
C) Arunachal Pradesh
D) Uttarakhand
Ans: A
Q6. India’s latest notified BR (2021) is
A) Cold Desert
B) Panna
C) Seshachalam
D) Achanakmar-Amarkantak
Ans: B
Q7. Which BR is part of the Gulf of Mannar?
A) Great Nicobar
B) Mannar Island
C) Gulf of Mannar
D) Rann of Kutch
Ans: C
Q8. Great Nicobar BR includes
A) Campbell Bay NP & Galathea NP
B) Ntangki NP
C) Balphakram NP
D) Mouling NP
Ans: A
Q9. Cold Desert BR is located in
A) Ladakh
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Uttarakhand
D) Sikkim
Ans: B
Q10. Agasthyamalai BR is spread in which two states?
A) Kerala & Karnataka
B) Tamil Nadu & Kerala
C) Karnataka & Tamil Nadu
D) Andhra & Tamil Nadu
Ans: B
Q11. Which BR was added to UNESCO list in 2020?
A) Panna
B) Pachmarhi
C) Achanakmar-Amarkantak
D) Similipal
Ans: A
Q12. Sundarban BR is famous for
A) Asiatic Lion
B) One-horned Rhino
C) Royal Bengal Tiger
D) Wild Ass
Ans: C
Q13. Nanda Devi BR is surrounded by which mountain peak?
A) Kamet
B) Nanda Devi
C) Kanchenjunga
D) Trishul
Ans: B
Q14. Which of the following is not recognised by UNESCO-MAB?
A) Manas
B) Nilgiri
C) Panna
D) Nokrek
Ans: A
Q15. Seshachalam BR is located in the Eastern Ghats of which state?
A) Odisha
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Telangana
D) Karnataka
Ans: B
7. Quick-Revision Table (UNESCO-MAB only)
| BR | State | Key Fauna |
|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri | TN-KL-KA | Nilgiri tahr, Lion-tailed macaque |
| Gulf of Mannar | TN | Dugong, Coral reefs |
| Sundarban | WB | Royal Bengal Tiger, Mangroves |
| Nanda Devi | UK | Snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer |
| Pachmarhi | MP | Giant squirrel, Flying squirrel |
| Nokrek | Meghalaya | Red panda, Asian elephant |
| Great Nicobar | A&N | Nicobar megapode, Salt-water crocodile |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak | MP-CG | Wild buffalo, Four-horned antelope |
| Agasthyamalai | KL-TN | Nilgiri tahr, Malabar hornbill |
| Khangchendzonga | Sikkim | Snow leopard, Red panda |
| Panna | MP | Tiger, Sloth bear, Ken Gharial |
| Similipal* | Odisha | melanistic tiger, elephant |
* Tentative UNESCO list.
Remember: 12 in UNESCO, 18 notified, Rann of Kutch largest, Panna newest, Nilgiri oldest!
BETA
