Indore and Udaipur become India's first Ramsar-accredited Wetland Cities
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Udaipur (Rajasthan) were among 31 newly accredited Wetland Cities announced by the Ramsar Convention on 24 January 2025, becoming the first Indian cities on the list.
Summary
Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Udaipur in Rajasthan became the first Indian cities to receive Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention, announced on 24 January 2025. The Convention's independent Advisory Committee on Wetland City Accreditation accredited 31 new cities in its latest round, taking the global list to 74. India had also nominated Bhopal, which was not accredited. Accreditation is granted only to cities that satisfy all six international criteria, including measures to conserve wetlands and their ecosystem services.
Key facts
- Cities
- Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Udaipur (Rajasthan)
- Announced
- 24 January 2025, by the Ramsar Convention
- Accredited by
- Independent Advisory Committee on Wetland City Accreditation
- New cities this round
- 31
- Global total
- 74 accredited Wetland Cities
- Not accredited
- Bhopal (nominated)
- Criteria
- All six international criteria must be met
- Ramsar sites in India
- 85
- Convention
- Adopted 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; 172 member countries
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which two Indian cities became the first to receive Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention in January 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Indore and Udaipur
TOI: Indore and Udaipur were accredited; Bhopal was nominated but not accredited.
Consider the following statements about Wetland City Accreditation in January 2025: 1. Indore and Udaipur were among 31 newly accredited cities. 2. Bhopal, also nominated by India, was accredited in the same round. 3. Accreditation requires meeting six international criteria. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
TOI: Indore and Udaipur were among 31 new cities and accreditation needs all six international criteria; Bhopal was nominated but not accredited.
The latest round of Wetland City Accreditation announced in January 2025, which included Indore and Udaipur, took the global list of accredited Wetland Cities to how many cities?
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Correct answer: C — 74
TOI: the independent Advisory Committee on Wetland City Accreditation accredited 31 new cities, taking the global list to 74. (85 is the number of Ramsar sites in India.)