National Parks in India – UPSC & SSC Exam Notes | JKSSB Mock Test

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.