National Parks in India MCQs
1. Which is the first National Park established in India?
Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park in Uttarakhand, it is India's first national park.
2. Hemis National Park, the largest in India, is located in?
Hemis National Park is famous for Snow Leopards and is the largest national park in India by area.
3. Which is the only floating National Park in the world?
Located on Loktak Lake in Manipur, it is famous for the Sangai deer (dancing deer).
4. Gir National Park is famous for being the last abode of?
Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world where Asiatic Lions are found in the wild.
5. Kaziranga National Park is located in which state?
Kaziranga is famous for hosting two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses.
6. Which is the smallest National Park in India?
Located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is the smallest national park with an area of about 0.03 sq km.
7. Kuno National Park, recently in news for Cheetah reintroduction, is in?
Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were reintroduced in Kuno National Park.
8. Silent Valley National Park is located in?
It is located in the Nilgiri hills, within the Palakkad District of Kerala.
9. Which National Park is a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Site?
Located in Sikkim, it was inscribed as India's first "Mixed" Heritage Site (cultural and natural).
10. Sundarbans National Park is famous for?
It is located in West Bengal and is part of the world's largest mangrove forest delta.
11. In which state is the Valley of Flowers National Park located?
It is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora.
12. Namdapha National Park is located in?
It is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.
13. Bandipur National Park is situated in?
Bandipur National Park is a tiger reserve in Karnataka.
14. Which National Park is known for the Great Indian Bustard?
Located in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, it is a haven for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
15. Simlipal National Park is located in which state?
Simlipal is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
16. Dudhwa National Park is located in?
Dudhwa National Park is located in the Terai belt of marshy grasslands in northern Uttar Pradesh.
17. Eravikulam National Park is famous for the protection of?
Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is a major habitat for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
18. Kanha National Park is located in?
Kanha is one of the largest national parks in Madhya Pradesh and famous for its tiger population.
19. Which National Park in Gujarat is famous for Blackbuck?
Located in the Bhavnagar District of Gujarat, it is famous for the conservation of Blackbucks.
20. Ranthambore National Park is located in?
Ranthambore is a famous tiger reserve in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan.
21. Dachigam National Park is famous for?
Dachigam, located near Srinagar, is the last viable home of the Hangul.
22. Marine National Park is located in which gulf?
The Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat) was the first marine national park in India.
23. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is situated in?
It is located in Wandoor on the Andaman Islands.
24. Betla National Park is located in?
Betla National Park is located in the Palamu district of Jharkhand.
25. Valmiki National Park is the only National Park in which state?
Valmiki National Park is located in the West Champaran district of Bihar.
26. Sultanpur National Park is located in?
Sultanpur National Park is a famous bird paradise located in the Gurugram district of Haryana.
27. Papikonda National Park is situated in?
It is located in the Papi Hills in East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.
28. Which National Park in India is also a Tiger Reserve and situated in Kerala?
Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area famous for its elephant and tiger reserves.
29. Manas National Park in Assam is NOT famous for which of the following?
Asiatic Lions are found only in Gir National Park, Gujarat. Manas is known for Buffalo, Pygmy Hog, and Golden Langur.
30. Sariska National Park is located in?
Sariska Tiger Reserve/National Park is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.
Related Reads
- Pulwama District MCQs | JKSSB General Awareness | Jammu and Kashmir GK
- MCQs on Important Passes of India with Answers
- MS Word MCQs with Answers – JKSSB, SSC, Computer Knowledge
- MCQS on Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019
National Parks in India – Comprehensive Guide for SSC, UPSC & JKSSB
National Parks in India are designated protected areas established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. These areas safeguard ecosystems, wildlife species, genetic heritage, and scenic beauty. Unlike wildlife sanctuaries, national parks have more restrictions on human activity. Understanding their distribution, flagship species, and unique features is crucial for competitive exams like SSC, JKSSB, UPSC, and state PSCs.
What is a National Park?
- Declared under Section 35 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Strictly regulated; grazing, resource extraction is prohibited
- Focus on preservation of entire ecosystems and species
- Legal boundaries and core zones are clearly demarcated
Key Differences: National Park vs. Wildlife Sanctuary
| Criteria | National Park | Wildlife Sanctuary |
|---|---|---|
| Human Use | Not permitted | Limited grazing/research allowed |
| Legal Status | Strictly defined boundary | More flexible boundary |
| Focus | Flora, fauna and landscape | Primarily fauna |
| Control | Government regulated | Some local involvement allowed |
Major National Parks by Region
India currently has over 100 National Parks (as of 2025). Below is an exam‑oriented selection of the most significant ones:
1. Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand)
- Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park – India’s first national park
- Famous for its population of the Bengal tiger
- Located in the Shivalik foothills; also home to elephants and leopards
2. Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
- World Heritage Site and home to two‑thirds of global one‑horned rhinoceros
- Important bird area; known for swamp buffalo and barasingha
3. Gir National Park (Gujarat)
- Only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion
- Also supports deer, leopard, hyena
4. Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal)
- Part of the largest mangrove eco‑system in the world
- Famous for the Royal Bengal tiger and estuarine crocodile
5. Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
- Model for “The Jungle Book”; home to Bengal tigers, barasingha, sloth bears
- Part of Kanha‑Pench Tiger Reserve
6. Ranthambore National Park (Rajasthan)
- Famous for its free‑roaming Bengal tigers in rocky terrain
- Hosted tiger relocation programs
7. Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh)
- High density of tigers; rich in biodiversity
- Also has leopards, deer, langurs
8. Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka)
- Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park
- Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; hosts tigers, elephants, gaur
9. Periyar National Park (Kerala)
- Located in Western Ghats; famous for bengal tigers and Asian elephants
- Also known for boating in Periyar Lake
10. Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh)
- UNESCO World Heritage site
- Supports alpine biodiversity including snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer
State‑Wise Table of Key National Parks
| State / UT | National Park | Flagship Species / Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Uttarakhand | Jim Corbett, Valley of Flowers | Tiger, alpine flowers |
| Assam | Kaziranga, Manas | One‑horned rhino, floodplain biodiversity |
| Gujarat | Gir | Asiatic lion |
| West Bengal | Sundarbans | Royal Bengal tiger, mangrove forest |
| Madhya Pradesh | Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna | Tiger, barasingha, caves |
| Rajasthan | Ranthambore, Sariska | Tiger, dry deciduous landscape |
| Kerala | Periyar | Elephants, boating ecosystem |
| Himachal Pradesh | Great Himalayan NP | Snow leopard, alpine flora |
| Karnataka | Nagarhole, Bandipur | Tiger, elephant, Nilgiri biosphere |
More Previous Year One‑Liners (SSC / RRB / UPSC / JKSSB)
- Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Known for migratory birds like Siberian Crane
- Ranthambore National Park: Famous for tiger sightings in Rajasthan
- Kanha National Park: Inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”
- Bandhavgarh NP: Highest tiger density in India
- Silent Valley National Park: Tropical evergreen forest in Kerala’s Nilgiris
- Periyar National Park: Known for elephants and artificial lake in Kerala
- Bannerghatta NP: Close to Bengaluru, known for butterfly park
- Pench National Park: Shared between MP and Maharashtra
- Valley of Flowers NP: UNESCO site, part of Nanda Devi Biosphere
- Nanda Devi NP: Part of World Heritage Site in Uttarakhand
- Manas National Park: UNESCO site, known for wild water buffalo
- Dachigam NP: Located in Jammu & Kashmir, habitat of Hangul deer
- Hemis NP: Largest NP in India, known for snow leopard
- Mudumalai NP: Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- Simlipal NP: Elephant and tiger reserve in Odisha
- Balpakram NP: Located in Meghalaya, called “Land of Spirits”
- Rajaji National Park: Named after C. Rajagopalachari, in Uttarakhand
- Indravati NP: Only tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh
- Kudremukh NP: Known for iron ore and shola grasslands
- Bhagwan Mahavir NP: Largest NP in Goa, contains Dudhsagar Falls
- Sanjay Gandhi NP: Located within Mumbai suburbs
- Kanger Valley NP: Famous for limestone caves, Chhattisgarh
- Mukurthi NP: Protects Nilgiri Tahr, Western Ghats
- Galathea NP: Located in Great Nicobar Island
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP: Known for coral reefs, Andaman Islands
Threats and Conservation Efforts
India’s national parks face threats like poaching, habitat loss, human‑wildlife conflict, and climate change. Conservation strategies include:
- Protected core zones and buffer zones
- Anti‑poaching units and intelligence networks
- Community involvement and eco‑tourism initiatives
- Implementation of Project Tiger, Project Snow Leopard, etc.
Conclusion
National Parks in India are critical for preserving biodiversity, protecting endangered species, and maintaining ecological integrity. These protected areas are not only conservation zones but also essential exam topics for aspirants of JKSSB, SSC, UPSC, and State PSCs. Detailed knowledge of flagship species, geographical location, and conservation status is advantageous in scoring high in geography‑based questions.