आर्द्रभूमि क्या है? आर्द्रभूमि संरक्षण के संदर्भ में ‘बुद्धिमत्तापूर्ण उपयोग’ की रामसर संकल्पना को स्पष्ट कीजिए। भारत से रामसर स्थलों के दो उदाहरणों का उद्धरण दीजिए।
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What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.
Approach · directive: “what / explain / cite”
What it asks · Define wetlands, explain 'wise use' as the Ramsar Convention means it, and name two Indian Ramsar sites.
It asks 3 things — answer each
- What: define a wetland
- Explain the Ramsar concept of 'wise use' in wetland conservation
- Cite two Ramsar sites from India
Open with · India has 96 Ramsar sites over 13.61 lakh hectares (January 2026), up from 26 in 2014; their future rests on wetlands used wisely, not fenced off.
Cover
- Context: 96 Ramsar sites covering 13.61 lakh hectares by January 2026, up from 26 in 2014 (New India Samachar, PIB).
- Definition: land saturated or covered by water, natural or man-made, permanent or seasonal, fresh, brackish or salt, where water controls plant and animal life.
- Services: flood control, groundwater recharge, purification, fisheries, carbon storage; Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
- Wise use (Rules 2017, from Ramsar): maintenance of ecological character through the ecosystem approach within sustainable development.
- In practice: use continues within a management plan, with restoration, monitoring and community participation; Montreux Record flags threatened sites.
- Chilika Lake (Odisha): new sea mouth, fisher participation, off the Montreux Record in 2002; Loktak Lake (Manipur): on it since 1993.
- Outlook: Amrit Dharohar (Budget 2023-24) to encourage optimal use of wetlands for biodiversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism and local incomes.
Close with · Chilika shows wise use working when communities and management plans guide the use; Amrit Dharohar (Budget 2023-24), promoting optimal use of wetlands for biodiversity, carbon and local incomes, can make every site a Chilika.
Add value (verified)
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 define 'wise use of wetlands' as maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through implementation of ecosystem approach within the context of sustainable development.Gazette of India: Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, rule 2(1)(i) (copy hosted by the National Green Tribunal) ↗““wise use of wetlands” means maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through implementation of ecosystem approach within the context of sustainable development;”
- PIB (30 January 2026): the Environment Minister said India's Ramsar network had expanded by over 276%, from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites at present.PIB: Union Environment Minister announces addition of 2 new wetlands to India's Ramsar list, ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026 (30 January 2026) ↗“India’s Ramsar network has expanded by over 276%, from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites at present.”
- Budget 2023-24 announced Amrit Dharohar, a three-year scheme to encourage optimal use of wetlands and enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism and income for local communities.Union Budget 2023-24, Budget Speech, para 86 (Amrit Dharohar) ↗“Amrit Dharohar, a scheme that will be implemented over the next three years to encourage optimal use of wetlands, and enhance bio-diversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism opportunities and income generation for local communities.”
- Ramsar Information Sheet for Chilika Lake: latitude 19°30' to 19°54' N, longitude 85°06' to 85°35' E, mostly in Puri district with a part in Ganjam, Odisha.Ramsar Sites Information Service: Chilika Lake (site no. 229), Information Sheet ↗“The greater part of the lake comes under Puri District while some portion extends into Ganjam District. Latitude: 19°30 to 19°54’North Longitude: 85°06 to 85°35’East”
- Ramsar Information Sheet for Loktak Lake, Manipur: area 26,600 ha, location 24°26' N, 93°49' E, in Bishnupur district.Ramsar Sites Information Service: Loktak Lake (site no. 463), Information Sheet ↗“Loktak Lake (Manipur) Area: 26,600 ha. Location: 24°26’N - 93°49’E. Situated in the district of Bishanpur.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2018, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 218words · Minimalist IAS
India has 98 Ramsar sites (PIB, 30 January 2026), up from 26 in 2014; their future rests on wetlands used wisely, not fenced off.
What a wetland is
- Definition: land saturated or covered by water, natural or man-made, permanent or seasonal, fresh, brackish or salt, where water controls plant and animal life.
- Services: flood control, groundwater recharge, water purification, fisheries and carbon storage, regulated under India's Wetlands Rules, 2017.
The Ramsar concept of 'wise use'
- Meaning: the 2017 Rules adopt Ramsar's definition: the maintenance of a wetland's ecological character, achieved through the ecosystem approach, within sustainable development.
- Not a ban: fishing, grazing and tourism continue within a management plan, with restoration, monitoring and community participation.
Two Ramsar sites from India
- Chilika Lake, Odisha: restored by opening a new sea mouth and involving fisher communities; off the Montreux Record of threatened sites since 2002.
- Loktak Lake, Manipur: on the Montreux Record since 1993; listing alone does not secure wise use.
✏️ Map to sketch in the exam · Two Indian Ramsar sites
- Mark: Chilika Lake (19.70, 85.34), Loktak Lake (24.43, 93.82)
- Legend: Chilika off the Montreux Record (2002)
- Loktak on it since 1993
Draw on India's official outline (Survey of India boundary).
Chilika shows wise use working when communities and management plans guide the use; Amrit Dharohar (Budget 2023-24), promoting optimal use of wetlands for biodiversity, carbon and local incomes, can make every site a Chilika.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
