In December 2025, the Siliserh Lake in Alwar district, Rajasthan, was officially designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, becoming India's 96th Ramsar site and Rajasthan's fifth. The designation was announced alongside Kopra Jalashay in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, which became India's 95th Ramsar site. Siliserh Lake, built in 1845 under Maharaja Vinay Singh of Alwar by constructing an embankment on a tributary of the Ruparel River, originally served as a drinking water source for Alwar city. Spanning approximately 7 square kilometres and located within the buffer zone of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the lake lies in a semi-arid landscape and supports exceptional biodiversity — 149 bird species and 17 mammal species, including the vulnerable river tern (Sterna aurantia) and the endangered Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris). The lake also supports more than 1 per cent of the biogeographic population of black stork, qualifying it under Ramsar Criterion 6. Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav welcomed the recognition, noting it would boost conservation, promote eco-tourism, and improve water-resource management in the region. Rajasthan's five Ramsar sites — Sambhar Lake, Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur), Jaisamand Lake, Ramgarh Vishdhari (Bundi), and now Siliserh (Alwar) — span the state's diverse saline, freshwater, and semi-arid wetland ecosystems. India's Ramsar-site total stood at 96 after these additions; as of April 22, 2026, India has 99 Ramsar sites.
Siliserh Lake in Alwar Becomes India's 96th Ramsar Site: Rajasthan's 5th Wetland of International Importance
In December 2025, the Siliserh Lake in Alwar district, Rajasthan, was officially designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, becoming India's 96th Ramsar site and Rajasthan's fifth. The designation was announced alongside Kopra Jalashay in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, which became India's 95th Ramsar site. Siliserh Lake, built in 1845 under Maharaja Vinay Singh of Alwar by constructing an embankment on a tributary of the Ruparel River, originally served as a drinking water source for Alwar city. Spanning approximately 7 square kilometres and located within the buffer zone of the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the lake lies in a semi-arid landscape and supports exceptional biodiversity — 149 bird species and 17 mammal species, including the vulnerable river tern (Sterna aurantia) and the endangered Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris). The lake also supports more than 1 per cent of the biogeographic population of black stork, qualifying it under Ramsar Criterion 6. Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav welcomed the recognition, noting it would boost conservation, promote eco-tourism, and improve water-resource management in the region. Rajasthan's five Ramsar sites — Sambhar Lake, Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur), Jaisamand Lake, Ramgarh Vishdhari (Bundi), and now Siliserh (Alwar) — span the state's diverse saline, freshwater, and semi-arid wetland ecosystems. India's Ramsar-site total stood at 96 after these additions; as of April 22, 2026, India has 99 Ramsar sites.
Key facts
- Siliserh Lake in Alwar became India's 96th Ramsar site and Rajasthan's fifth in December 2025.
- Built in 1845 under Maharaja Vinay Singh by constructing an embankment on a Ruparel River tributary.
- It supports over 1% of the biogeographic population of black stork, qualifying under Ramsar Criterion 6.
- Located within the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve, spanning approximately 7 square kilometres.
- India's Ramsar-site total stood at 96 after these additions; as of April 22, 2026, India has 99 Ramsar sites.
- Kopra Jalashay in Chhattisgarh was designated as India's 95th Ramsar site alongside Siliserh.
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Practice MCQ from this story
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Which statement is correct about Siliserh Lake's Ramsar designation in December 2025?
Siliserh Lake in Alwar district, Rajasthan, was added to the Ramsar list in December 2025. With this designation, Rajasthan's Ramsar-site count rose to 5. The parallel addition of Kopra Jalashay related to Chhattisgarh, so the option placing Siliserh in Chhattisgarh is incorrect.
Source: FreePressJournal / Manorama Yearbook
Frequently asked questions
When was Siliserh Lake in Alwar designated as a Ramsar site, and what rank does it hold among India's Ramsar sites?
Siliserh Lake was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in December 2025, becoming India's 96th Ramsar site and Rajasthan's fifth.
Who built Siliserh Lake and in which year was it constructed?
Siliserh Lake was built in 1845 by Maharaja Vinay Singh of Alwar by constructing an embankment on a tributary of the Ruparel River, originally to supply drinking water to Alwar city.
Under which Ramsar criterion was Siliserh Lake designated, and what is the qualifying bird species?
Siliserh Lake qualifies under Ramsar Criterion 5 because it supports over 1% of the biogeographic population of the black stork.
In which protected area's buffer zone is Siliserh Lake located, and what is its approximate area?
Siliserh Lake is located within the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan and spans approximately 7 square kilometres in a semi-arid landscape.
Which wetland was designated alongside Siliserh Lake as a Ramsar site, and what number does it hold?
Kopra Jalashay in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh was designated as India's 95th Ramsar site at the same time as Siliserh Lake's designation as the 96th.
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