1
Which National Park in India is the world's only floating national park?
🗺️ National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
By Priya Sharma · Static GK Expert
50 Questions Indian Geography
A comprehensive collection of 20 high-quality MCQ questions covering the geography, location, and key features of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India.
2
Which of the following National Parks is known as the 'Mini Kaziranga' due to its significant population of one-horned rhinoceros?
3
In which state is the 'Desert National Park' located?
4
The 'Silent Valley National Park' is located in which state?
5
Which is the largest National Park in India by area?
6
Which National Park is famous for being the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion?
7
The 'Eravikulam National Park' is located in the Idukki district of which state?
8
Which National Park is situated at the tri-junction of India, China, and Myanmar?
9
Which state has the maximum number of National Parks in India?
10
Similipal National Park, famous for its elephants and tigers, is located in:
11
Which National Park is famous for the Hangul (Kashmir Stag)?
12
Nanda Devi National Park is located in which state?
13
Which National Park is known for the Gangetic Dolphins?
14
Bandipur National Park is located in which state?
15
Which National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its mangrove ecosystem?
16
Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in:
17
Which National Park is situated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
18
Khangchendzonga National Park is located in:
19
Which sanctuary is famous for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard?
20
Indravati National Park is located in:
21
Which National Park is primarily famous for the conservation of the brow-antlered deer, also known as 'Sangai'?
22
The 'Panna National Park', known for its diamond mines and tiger conservation, is situated in which state?
23
Which National Park in India is the first to be established, originally known as Hailey National Park?
24
Which wildlife sanctuary in India is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Khur)?
25
Which of the following National Parks is famously known for the 'Nilgiri Tahr'?
26
Mount Harriet National Park, often featured in historical contexts regarding the Andaman Islands, is located in:
27
Valley of Flowers National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in which state?
28
Which National Park in Assam is famous for being the largest undisturbed representative area of the Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests?
29
Which sanctuary is India's largest tiger reserve by area?
30
Valmiki National Park is the only National Park located in which state?
31
Which of the following is India’s first Marine National Park?
32
Rajaji National Park, famous for its elephants, is located in which state?
33
Which National Park is known as the 'Home of the White Tiger'?
34
Blackbuck National Park (Velavadar) is located in which state?
35
Which sanctuary is famous for the 'Olive Ridley Sea Turtles'?
36
Anshi National Park (also known as Kali Tiger Reserve) is located in which state?
37
Hemis National Park is the largest National Park in India by area; in which region is it located?
38
Papikonda National Park is located in which state?
39
Which National Park is located in the state of Meghalaya, known for its pristine Garo Hills?
40
Which of the following national parks is situated in the state of Rajasthan?
41
Which National Park in Odisha is famous for its unique white tiger population and is located in the Mayurbhanj district?
42
Kishtwar National Park, known for its high-altitude alpine ecosystem, is situated in which Union Territory/State?
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Which National Park is known as the 'Land of the Roaring Lions' and is located in the state of Maharashtra?
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Gorumara National Park, famous for its population of one-horned rhinos, is located in which state?
45
Which among the following is the only National Park in India located in the state of Bihar?
46
Mukurthi National Park is primarily established to protect which of the following species?
47
Which National Park in Karnataka is home to the largest concentration of wild Asiatic elephants in India?
48
The 'Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary' (also known as Pakke Tiger Reserve) is located in which state?
49
Which of the following National Parks is situated in the state of Mizoram and is famous for its blue mountains?
50
Kanger Ghati National Park is located in which Indian state?
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Important Notes — National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
Overview of Protected Areas in India
India’s protected area network is established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These areas are designated to conserve biodiversity, endangered species, and natural ecosystems. As of 2024, India has over 106 National Parks and 570+ Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Key Legal Distinctions
- National Parks (NP): Declared by state or central governments under the WLPA, 1972. They have the highest level of protection; human activity (grazing, private land rights) is strictly prohibited.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS): These areas have a lesser degree of protection compared to NPs. Certain human activities (like timber harvesting or collection of minor forest produce) may be permitted at the discretion of the Chief Wildlife Warden.
- Conservation Reserves & Community Reserves: These act as buffer zones or migration corridors between existing protected areas.
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Important Statistics and Records
For competitive exams like UPSC and SSC, candidates must focus on specific geographical records:
- First National Park: Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand), established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. It is famous for the Project Tiger initiative.
- Largest National Park: Hemis National Park (Ladakh).
- Smallest National Park: South Button Island National Park (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
- Only Floating National Park: Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur), located on Loktak Lake, famous for the Sangai (Dancing Deer).
- Marine National Park: The first was the Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat).
- State with most National Parks: Madhya Pradesh (closely followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
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Frequently Asked Exam Concepts
Biodiversity Hotspots and UNESCO Sites
- Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh): A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its alpine meadows and glacial peaks.
- Kaziranga National Park (Assam): Famous for the One-Horned Rhinoceros; it holds two-thirds of the world’s population.
- Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal): A UNESCO site and the largest mangrove forest in the world, home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Important Initiatives
- Project Tiger (1973): Aimed at increasing the population of tigers. India is home to approximately 75% of the world's wild tiger population.
- Project Elephant (1992): Launched to protect elephants and their corridors.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act Amendment (2022): Focused on increasing species under protection and streamlining the management of sanctuaries.
Strategy for Competitive Exams
- Map-based approach: Always locate the NP/WLS on a physical map. Focus on identifying the river flowing through the park (e.g., Brahmaputra in Kaziranga, Betwa in Panna).
- Fauna focus: Memorize unique endemic species (e.g., Hangul in Dachigam, Nilgiri Tahr in Eravikulam).
- Current Affairs: Keep track of newly declared Ramsar Sites or Biosphere Reserves as they often overlap with National Parks.
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National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries MCQ — Jim Corbett, Kaziranga & Tiger Reserves for UPSC SSC 2026
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries MCQ questions are asked in virtually every competitive exam — UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, State PSC, and IBPS. The topic combines geography (state locations), environment (species, ecosystems), and current affairs (new designations, UNESCO listings). Knowing the state, key species, and special status of India's major protected areas is essential for scoring in this section.
India has 106 national parks (as of 2024) covering over 43,000 sq km. Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand) was India's first national park, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. It was also the first Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. Kaziranga National Park (Assam) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceros. It also has significant populations of Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, and wild water buffalo.
State-wise Important National Parks — MCQ Hotspots
- Assam: Kaziranga (one-horned rhino), Manas (UNESCO WHS), Dibru-Saikhowa
- Madhya Pradesh: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Panna — MP has the most tiger reserves
- Rajasthan: Ranthambore, Sariska, Desert NP (Great Indian Bustard)
- Uttarakhand: Jim Corbett, Rajaji, Valley of Flowers (UNESCO WHS), Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
- Kerala: Periyar, Silent Valley (no roads — untouched rainforest), Eravikulam (Nilgiri Tahr)
- Sundarbans: West Bengal — UNESCO WHS, largest mangrove, Bengal tigers swim between islands
Project Tiger & Project Elephant — UPSC Favourites
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with Jim Corbett as the first reserve. As of 2024, India has 53 Tiger Reserves across 18 states. Madhya Pradesh leads with the highest number of reserves, while Uttarakhand has the highest tiger density. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment oversees Project Tiger — an important exam fact about which ministry manages these bodies.
Project Elephant (1992) covers 30 Elephant Reserves across 14 states. Karnataka has the largest elephant population. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve — covering parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka — is the largest biosphere in South India and home to elephants, tigers, and Nilgiri tahr.
Wildlife Sanctuary vs National Park vs Tiger Reserve
A key MCQ distinction: in a Wildlife Sanctuary, limited human activities (grazing, collection of forest produce) are permitted; in a National Park, no human activity is allowed — it has the highest protection. A Tiger Reserve is a notified area under Project Tiger that can overlap with national parks and sanctuaries. Biosphere Reserves are UNESCO-designated and have three zones: core (strictest), buffer, and transition.
FAQ: National Parks Wildlife Sanctuaries MCQ
Q: Which is India's first national park?
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand — established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, renamed Ramganga NP in 1952, and finally Jim Corbett NP in 1957.
Q: Which national park has the most one-horned rhinos?
Kaziranga National Park, Assam — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — has the world's largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).
Q: How many Tiger Reserves does India have?
India has 53 Tiger Reserves (as of 2024) across 18 states, managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under Project Tiger (launched 1973).
About the Author
PS
Priya Sharma Static GK Expert
Indian History · Geography · Polity & Economy Specialist
With 8+ years of teaching static GK for competitive exams, Priya has helped thousands of students master the foundational subjects that appear year after year in UPSC, SSC, and Railway exams. She focuses on making history, geography, and polity approachable through well-structured MCQs and memorable explanations.
