Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 June 2025 — World Environment Day — announced that India has reached a landmark conservation milestone, with the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, officially designated as the country's 100th Ramsar site. The recognition places India among the world's leading nations in wetland protection under the international Ramsar Convention.

The 100th Site: Surha Tal in Ballia

The Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, locally known as Surha Tal, is a freshwater wetland in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. The sanctuary is noted for its rich avifaunal biodiversity, drawing a wide range of both migratory and resident bird species each season. Its designation brings the total count of India's internationally recognised wetlands to 100 — a figure that underscores a sustained national push to protect ecologically sensitive water bodies.

What PM Modi Said

Posting on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'A century as far as Ramsar sites are concerned! Glad that the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh has been designated as India's 100th Ramsar site. This wetland is rich in avifaunal biodiversity, attracting several migratory and resident birds.'

Modi added: 'India's unwavering commitment to protecting our natural surroundings and wetlands in particular is clearly reflected in this feat. Over the years, efforts to conserve and rejuvenate wetlands have been strengthened through greater community participation, science, innovation and awareness initiatives. These endeavours are helping preserve biodiversity, secure ecological balance and create a greener future for coming generations.'

Wetland Conservation: India's Broader Commitment

India's Ramsar tally has grown significantly over the past decade, reflecting a policy shift toward integrating wetland conservation into mainstream environmental governance. The government has emphasised community participation, scientific monitoring, and public awareness as the three pillars of its wetland rejuvenation strategy. Notably, several of India's more recently designated Ramsar sites lie in ecologically stressed regions, signalling a move beyond iconic sites toward protecting lesser-known but equally vital water bodies.

World Environment Day Context

The announcement came on World Environment Day, observed globally on 5 June every year under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This year, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to a cleaner, greener future guided by the principle of 'One Earth, One Family and One Future' and the spirit of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). The day traces its origins to the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, which first brought ecological concerns to the centre of global policymaking. The first formal observance took place in 1973.

What Comes Next

With the 100th Ramsar designation achieved, conservation advocates and environmental bodies are expected to push for stronger on-ground protection measures, including buffer zone enforcement and pollution control around listed wetlands. The milestone also raises the stakes for India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its post-2020 global biodiversity framework targets. How effectively the government translates the symbolic landmark into measurable ecological outcomes will determine the true significance of this achievement.