EnvironmentAugust 17, 2026

Tiger Reserves in India 2026: Complete State-wise List of 58 Reserves, NTCA & Project Tiger for UPSC

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UPSC Planner Editorial Team

Summary

A comprehensive guide to all 58 Tiger Reserves in India, covering state-wise distributions, latest additions (54th to 58th), NTCA statutory framework, Core vs Buffer zones, M-STrIPES, and All India Tiger Estimation for UPSC CSE.

India is home to more than 70% of the world's wild tiger (Panthera tigris) population (officially estimated at roughly three-fourths of global numbers). As of 2026, India's network of dedicated tiger habitats spans 58 designated standalone Tiger Reserves across 18 states, encompassing 84,487.83 square kilometers (approximately 2.56% of India's total geographical area).

The conservation framework in India combines the pioneering Project Tiger (launched in 1973) with the statutory powers of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. For UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains (GS Paper I Geography & GS Paper III Environment), tiger conservation is a perennial theme encompassing state-wise mapping, core vs buffer zonation, tiger census methodologies (M-STrIPES), TX2 international awards, and the newly launched International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

Quick Facts Matrix: Tiger Conservation in India

ParameterOfficial Data & MilestoneUPSC Exam Relevance
Total Tiger Reserves58 Standalone Tiger Reserves (as of 2026)Encompasses 18 States (84,487.83 sq km / ~2.56% of India).
Latest National Tiger Estimate3,682 tigers (AITE 2022 average estimate; min 3,167, max 3,925)India accounts for >70% (approx. 75%) of global wild tigers.
Top Tiger States1. Madhya Pradesh (785)<br>2. Karnataka (563)<br>3. Uttarakhand (560)<br>4. Maharashtra (444)MP retains the status of the "Tiger State of India".
Reserve with Highest AbundanceCorbett Tiger Reserve (260 tigers)Highest tiger abundance recorded within a single reserve in AITE 2022.
Largest Tiger Reserve (Area)Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh)3,296.31 sq km notified area (Core: 2,595.72 sq km + Buffer: 700.59 sq km).
Smallest Core / CTH AreaBor Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra)Core Critical Tiger Habitat is 138.12 sq km (total notified area 816.27 sq km).
Smallest Total Reserve AreaOrang Tiger Reserve (Assam)492.46 sq km total notified Tiger Reserve area.
58th Tiger Reserve (Newest)Madhav Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)Notified in 2025; 9th Tiger Reserve in MP.
57th Tiger ReserveRatapani Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh)Notified in 2024–2025 (Raisen/Sehore districts).
56th Tiger ReserveGuru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla (Chhattisgarh)Notified in 2024–2025; covers ~2,829 sq km (3rd largest in India).
55th Tiger ReserveDholpur-Karauli (Rajasthan)Notified in August 2023 (Chambal landscape).
54th Tiger ReserveVeerangana Durgavati (Madhya Pradesh)Notified in Sept 2023 (Nauradehi + Durgavati).
53rd Tiger ReserveRanipur Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh)Notified in 2022 (Bundelkhand region, Chitrakoot).

Statutory Framework: Project Tiger, NTCA & WPA 1972

Project Tiger (1973–Present)

  • Genesis: Launched on 1 April 1973 at Jim Corbett National Park (Uttarakhand) by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with Kailash Sankhala appointed as its first Director ("Tiger Man of India").
  • Initial Scope: Started with 9 Tiger Reserves (Corbett, Manas, Ranthambore, Similipal, Bandipur, Palamau, Kanha, Melghat, and Sundarbans) spanning 18,278 sq km.
  • 50-Year Golden Jubilee (April 2023): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 50-year celebrations in Mysuru, releasing the 5th Cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE 2022) and launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

Constituted in December 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force (after local tiger extinctions in Sariska in 2004). The NTCA was granted statutory status under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2006 (Chapter IVB).

  • Composition: Chaired by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), with the Minister of State for MoEFCC as Vice-Chairperson, three Members of Parliament, and eight conservation experts.
  • Statutory Mandate:
    • Approving State Tiger Conservation Plans (TCP) submitted under Section 38V.
    • Laying down normative standards for tiger conservation and eco-tourism guidelines.
    • Recommending notification and denotification of Tiger Reserves (No alteration of boundary or denotification can occur without NTCA recommendation and approval of the National Board for Wildlife - NBWL).
    • Conducting the quadrennial All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Zonation of Tiger Reserves (Section 38V of WPA 1972)

  1. Core / Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH):
    • Defined under Section 38V(4)(i) as areas established on scientific evidence to be kept inviolate for tiger conservation.
    • Prohibits commercial forestry, grazing, and new infrastructure.
    • Voluntary relocation of forest dwellers is funded with a compensation package of ₹15 lakh per eligible family (or land-for-land rehabilitation).
  2. Buffer / Peripheral Area:
    • Defined under Section 38V(4)(ii) as the surrounding landscape providing habitat continuity and corridor connectivity.
    • Promotes co-existence between wildlife and local communities while securing their statutory rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA).

Technology & Monitoring: M-STrIPES & Tiger Census

All India Tiger Estimation (AITE)

Conducted every 4 years by the NTCA and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The 5th Cycle (2022) surveyed 641,449 sq km of forested landscapes across 20 states.

  • Census Methodology:
    • Phase 1: Ground-level sampling of sign encounters (pugmarks, scat, scratch marks, prey signs).
    • Phase 2: Remotely sensed habitat characterization and GIS mapping.
    • Phase 3: Rigorous camera-trapping (capturing individual stripe patterns identified via computerized software like ExtractCompare).
    • Phase 4: Scat DNA genetics and spatial capture-recapture (SECR) statistical models.

M-STrIPES Application

M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) is a patented mobile app and GIS-based patrolling tool:

  • Forest guards log patrol tracks via GPS in real-time.
  • Records direct animal sightings, illegal tree felling, snaring, poaching signs, and waterhole conditions.
  • Enables quantitative assessment of patrol coverage and immediate anti-poaching response.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Launched by India in April 2023, the IBCA is an international multi-country coalition comprising 95 big-cat range countries alongside non-range partner nations and conservation agencies. Dedicated to conserving 7 big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. Headquartered in India with a dedicated initial funding commitment from the Government of India.

Complete State-Wise Directory of All 58 Tiger Reserves

Below is the definitive, 100% complete state-by-state inventory of India's 58 notified standalone Tiger Reserves across 18 states.

Madhya Pradesh (9 Tiger Reserves — "Tiger State of India")

Madhya Pradesh hosts the highest number of tiger reserves and wild tigers (785) in India.

  1. Kanha Tiger Reserve: First tiger reserve to introduce an official mascot — "Bhoorsingh the Barasingha" (Hard-ground swamp deer).
  2. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve: High tiger density among Central Indian reserves; famous for historic white tiger lineage and Bandhavgarh Fort.
  3. Pench Tiger Reserve (MP portion): Inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book; contiguous with Maharashtra's Pench.
  4. Panna Tiger Reserve: Landmark success in tiger reintroduction after local extinction in 2009; impacted by the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project.
  5. Satpura Tiger Reserve: Unique terrain of sandstone peaks and gorges (Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve); allows walking safaris.
  6. Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve: Part of the Guru Ghasidas-Sanjay wildlife corridor connecting MP and Chhattisgarh.
  7. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (54th TR): Notified in September 2023 combining Nauradehi and Veerangana Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries.
  8. Ratapani Tiger Reserve (57th TR): Notified in 2024–2025 across Raisen and Sehore districts; includes Bhimbetka rock shelters.
  9. Madhav Tiger Reserve (58th TR): India's newest Tiger Reserve (notified in 2025) in Shivpuri district, revitalizing the historic upper Vindhyan corridor.

Maharashtra (6 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park; famous for dominant tiger populations in Chandrapur.
  2. Melghat Tiger Reserve: Situated in the Satpura Range (Gavilgarh Hills); first tiger reserve notified in Maharashtra (1973–74).
  3. Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra portion): Drains into the Totladoh reservoir; first trans-boundary interstate tiger landscape.
  4. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve: Encompasses Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern Western Ghats.
  5. Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve: Vital corridor connecting Tadoba, Pench, and Kanha in the Vidarbha landscape.
  6. Bor Tiger Reserve: Located in Wardha district; holds the smallest core Critical Tiger Habitat area in India (138.12 sq km).

Karnataka (5 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Bandipur Tiger Reserve: Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; contiguous with Mudumalai (TN), Wayanad (Kerala), and Nagarhole.
  2. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve (Rajiv Gandhi NP): Drained by the Kabini river; exceptional density of Asian elephants, leopards, and tigers.
  3. Bhadra Tiger Reserve: Located in the Western Ghats (Chikkamagaluru); pioneer in voluntary, conflict-free village rehabilitation.
  4. Kali Tiger Reserve (Anshi-Dandeli): Named after the Kali River; dense evergreen rainforests of the central Western Ghats.
  5. Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve: Ecological bridge connecting the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats; home to the indigenous Soliga tribe.

Tamil Nadu (5 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR): Southernmost tiger reserve in India; located in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (River Thamirabarani's source).
  2. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: Tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
  3. Anamalai Tiger Reserve (Indira Gandhi WLS): Located in the southern Western Ghats (Pollachi/Valparai hills).
  4. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve: Crucial wildlife corridor between Eastern and Western Ghats; winner of the Global TX2 Award for doubling tiger numbers.
  5. Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve (51st TR): Formed by combining Grizzled Giant Squirrel WLS and Megamalai WLS; primary catchment for the Vaigai River.

Rajasthan (5 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve: Situated at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges; famous for diurnal tiger viewing and historic Ranthambore Fort.
  2. Sariska Tiger Reserve: World's first successful aerial helicopter translocation of tigers after local poaching extinction in 2004.
  3. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (Darrah): Encompasses Mukundra Hills, Darrah, and Chambal wildlife sanctuaries.
  4. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (52nd TR): Notified in 2022 in Bundi district; serves as a vital corridor connecting Ranthambore and Mukundra.
  5. Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve (55th TR): Notified in August 2023 along the Chambal river landscape.

Assam (4 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve: UNESCO World Heritage Site; holds the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros alongside high tiger density.
  2. Manas Tiger Reserve: UNESCO World Heritage Site; trans-boundary reserve contiguous with Bhutan's Royal Manas National Park; home to Pygmy Hog and Golden Langur.
  3. Nameri Tiger Reserve: Drained by the Jia-Bhoreli (Kameng) River in the Himalayan foothills; adjacent to Arunachal's Pakke TR.
  4. Orang Tiger Reserve (Rajiv Gandhi NP): Smallest tiger reserve in India by total notified area (492.46 sq km); located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra.

Uttar Pradesh (3 Standalone Tiger Reserves)

Uttar Pradesh has 3 standalone notified tiger reserves, with Amangarh functioning administratively as the designated buffer of Corbett in UP:

  1. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve: Located in the Terai belt (Lakhimpur Kheri) along the Indo-Nepal border; comprises Dudhwa NP, Kishanpur WLS, and Katarniaghat WLS.
  2. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve: Winner of the international TX2 Award for doubling its tiger population in just four years; origin of the Gomti River (Gomat Taal).
  3. Ranipur Tiger Reserve (53rd TR): Notified in 2022 in Chitrakoot district; located in the Bundelkhand region.
  • (Note: Amangarh / Amanagarh buffer in Bijnor district is officially notified as the buffer zone extension of Uttarakhand's Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve within Uttar Pradesh).

Chhattisgarh (4 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Indravati Tiger Reserve: Located in Bastar (Bijapur district); habitat of the endangered Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee); drains into Indravati River.
  2. Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve: Drains into the Mahanadi basin; noted for pure-breed wild buffalo conservation programs.
  3. Achanakmar Tiger Reserve: Core zone of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve; contiguous with MP's Kanha corridor.
  4. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve (56th TR): Notified in 2024–2025; covers ~2,829 sq km across Koriya, Manendragarh, Surajpur, and Balrampur districts, making it the third largest Tiger Reserve in India.

Arunachal Pradesh (3 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Namdapha Tiger Reserve: High-altitude biodiversity hotspot in Changlang district; notable for the recorded presence of four big cat species (Tiger, Common Leopard, Clouded Leopard, and Snow Leopard) across its altitudinal gradients.
  2. Pakke Tiger Reserve (Pakhui): Winner of India Biodiversity Award for hornbill nest adoption program; drained by the Kameng (Bhoreli) River.
  3. Kamlang Tiger Reserve: Located in Lohit district; named after the Kamlang River; features Glow Lake.

Uttarakhand (2 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Corbett Tiger Reserve (Jim Corbett NP): Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park; India's first national park and the cradle of Project Tiger (1973); holds the highest tiger abundance in a single reserve in India (260 tigers in AITE 2022).
  2. Rajaji Tiger Reserve: Located in the Shivalik foothills at the beginning of the Upper Gangetic Plains; landscape for elephant and tiger conservation.

Kerala (2 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Periyar Tiger Reserve: Located in the Cardamom Hills; surrounding the artificial Periyar Lake; feeds Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams.
  2. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: Situated in the Anamalai Hills (Palakkad district); famous for the ancient Kannimara Teak tree.

West Bengal (2 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Sundarbans Tiger Reserve: UNESCO World Heritage Site & Ramsar Wetland; world's largest mangrove landscape supporting a resident wild tiger population, adapted to tidal saline waters.
  2. Buxa Tiger Reserve: Located in the Buxa Hills along the Indo-Bhutan border; vital international corridor for tiger and elephant movement.

Odisha (2 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Similipal Tiger Reserve: Part of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves; home to rare melanistic (pseudo-melanistic black) tigers caused by a genetic mutation (Taqpep gene).
  2. Satkosia Tiger Reserve: Situated along the dramatic Satkosia Gorge of the Mahanadi River; site of India's first inter-state tiger relocation experiment.

Telangana (2 Tiger Reserves)

  1. Amrabad Tiger Reserve: Located in the Nallamala Hills; second largest tiger reserve in India; habitat of the indigenous Chenchu tribe.
  2. Kawal Tiger Reserve: Located in the northern Telangana Adilabad/Mancherial belt; drained by the Kadam river.

Andhra Pradesh (1 Tiger Reserve)

  1. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR): Largest Tiger Reserve in India (3,296.31 sq km notified area); spans the Nallamala Hills across 5 districts; Krishna river flows through the reserve.

Bihar (1 Tiger Reserve)

  1. Valmiki Tiger Reserve: Located in West Champaran district along the Indo-Nepal border; contiguous with Nepal's Chitwan National Park.

Jharkhand (1 Tiger Reserve)

  1. Palamau Tiger Reserve: One of the original 9 Project Tiger reserves (1973); located in the Chota Nagpur Plateau (Latehar district).

Mizoram (1 Tiger Reserve)

  1. Dampa Tiger Reserve: Located in western Mizoram along the Bangladesh border; rugged tropical evergreen rainforests.

Global TX2 Awards & International Accolades

The TX2 Goal was adopted in 2010 at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit by 13 tiger range countries to double wild tiger numbers by 2022. India achieved this goal four years ahead of schedule (in 2018).

Indian Tiger ReserveAward ConferredReason for International Recognition
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (UP)TX2 Award (2020)Doubled its tiger population from 25 to 65 in just four years (2014 to 2018).
Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam)Conservation Excellence Award (2020)Remarkable community-led tiger recovery after decades of civil unrest.
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (TN)TX2 Award (2022)Doubled tiger numbers from 25 in 2011 to over 80 tigers.
Pench Tiger Reserve (MP)CA-TS AccreditationVerified under Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA-TS).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for UPSC CSE

What is the total number and area of Tiger Reserves in India as of 2026?

As of 2026, India has 58 notified standalone Tiger Reserves spread across 18 states, covering a total notified area of 84,487.83 sq km (approximately 2.56% of India's total land area). The newest additions include the 56th Tiger Reserve (Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla in Chhattisgarh), the 57th Tiger Reserve (Ratapani in Madhya Pradesh), and the 58th Tiger Reserve (Madhav Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, notified in 2025).

What is the legal status of Amangarh Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh?

Amangarh (Amanagarh) in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh was originally part of the Jim Corbett National Park landscape. Following the creation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the core of Corbett went to Uttarakhand, while the southern forested belt remained in UP. In 2012, UP officially notified this area as Amangarh Tiger Reserve, functioning administratively as the designated buffer zone to Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.

What is the legal procedure for notifying a Tiger Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972?

Under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, a Tiger Reserve is notified by the respective State Government upon the recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The State Government must prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) outlining the Core and Buffer areas. No Tiger Reserve can be denotified or its boundary altered without the approval of both the NTCA and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

Which Indian state has the highest tiger population and the most tiger reserves?

Madhya Pradesh holds the title of the "Tiger State of India", having both the highest wild tiger population (785 tigers according to the 5th All India Tiger Estimation 2022) and the maximum number of Tiger Reserves (9 Tiger Reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Sanjay-Dubri, Veerangana Durgavati, Ratapani, and Madhav).

What is the difference between Core and Buffer zones in a Tiger Reserve?

Under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972:

  • Core / Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) is an inviolate area scientifically determined to be kept completely free from human interference, commercial exploitation, and forestry operations.
  • Buffer Zone surrounds the core area to provide habitat connectivity and corridor security, managed for sustainable co-existence between local communities and wildlife while protecting forest rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

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