List of Tiger Reserves in India 2025, Tiger Reserve Names, Map and Tiger Conservation Schemes

Explore the updated list of Tiger Reserves in India for 2025, that includes 58 tiger reserves with the recently added Madhav Tiger Reserve as the newest in India. Discover the latest updates and news about Tiger Reserves in India 2025 and their importance in wildlife conservation. Learn about the location of tiger reserves, their significance and efforts by the Indian Government to protect the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger.

List of Tiger Reserves in India

As of July 2025, Indian Government currently has designated 58 protected areas as Tiger Reserves. These 58 tiger reserves in India cover approximately 84,487.83 square kilometres. The tiger reserves in India cover nearly 2.3 per cent of India’s land area. These tiger reserves play a crucial role in conserving the tiger population in India. India, as of 2023, has around 3682 individual tigers, which is nearly 75 per cent of the global wild tiger population.

Madhya Pradesh leads the list of tiger reserves in India with 9 tiger reserves, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka. Candidates can read this article to get the complete details about the list of tiger reserves in India.

The latest addition to the Tiger Reserve List in India is the Madhav Tiger Reserve which became the 58^th Tiger Reserve in India and the ninth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhav Tiger Reserve was announced as the 58 Tiger Reserve in India by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in March 2025.

In the table below as collated by Veranda RACE from various authentic sources such as National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), we are giving the complete list of Tiger Reserves in India with their location/state in which they are located, the area, year of creation, which will be helpful for your upcoming Bank, SSC, Insurance, TNPSC, TNUSRB SI/Police, Karnataka PSC and Railways/RRB Exams and also for UPSC IAS, CDS, NDA, UGC NET, CAPF Prelims and Mains exams:

Statewise Tiger Reserves in India

India is home to 58 tiger reserves across 18 states, each playing a vital role in safeguarding the majestic and endangered Bengal tiger. These tiger reserves in India aren’t just protected forest areas, they’re part of Project Tiger, a landmark conservation effort launched by the Indian Government in 1973 to revive tiger populations and preserve their natural habitats.

Together, they form the backbone of India’s commitment to wildlife protection and ecological balance.

Here are the state-wise numbers of tiger reserves in each state:
A total of 18 states consists of tiger reserves within their borders. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tiger reserves with 9 tiger reserves.

Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tiger reserves in India with 9 tiger reserves followed by Maharashtra with 6 tiger reserves.

What is a Tiger Reserve?

A Tiger Reserve in India is a protected area meant for conservation of the Bengal tigers and their ecosystem.

This Tiger Reserve falls under the Project Tiger (1973).

Project Tiger is a centrally sponsored scheme spearheaded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

These tiger reserves remain as areas that ensure the growth of tiger population, habitat conservation and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

A state government must declare an area as a Tiger Reserve if the NTCA recommends it.

The boundaries of a Tiger Reserve cannot be changed or altered without consent or approval from the National Board of Wildlife and the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Tiger Population in India

India’s tiger population is currently 3682 in 2022 according to Tiger Estimation Report 2022.This is a greater growth compared to 2967 tigers in 2018.

The largest tiger population is in the state of Madhya Pradesh with 785 tigers. It is followed by Karnataka with 563 tigers, Uttarakhand with 560 tigers and Maharashtra with 444 tigers.

The tiger abundance within the Tiger Reserve is highest in Corbett Tiger Reserve with 260 followed by Bandipur Tiger Reserve with 150 tigers and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve with 141 tigers.

Central India, Shivalik Hills and the Gangetic Plains have witnessed a notable increase in their tiger population.

The annual growth rate of tigers in India is 6.1 per cent per annum.

Total Tiger Reserves in India

There are currently 58 Tiger Reserves in India as of July 2025.

The recent addition to the list of tiger reserves in India is the Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This is the latest tiger reserve in India as of 2025.

Largest Tiger Reserve in India

Nagarjunasagar – Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh is the largest or the biggest tiger reserve in India. It encompasses an area of 3296 sq. km. in Nandyal, Prakasam, Palnadu, Nalgonda and Mahabub Nagar in Andhra Pradesh.

It is located in the Nallamala hill ranges along the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. It attained the Tiger Reserve status in 1983. It constitutes Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary in it.

Smallest Tiger Reserve in India

Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra is the smallest Tiger Reserve in India among the 58 tiger reserves. It spans just an area of 138.12 sq.km.

It was declared a tiger reserve in 2014 and was earlier part of the Bor Widlife Sanctuary.

Latest Tiger Reserve in India

Madhav Tiger Reserve became India’s latest and 58^th Tiger Reserve of India. It is also Madhya Pradesh’s ninth tiger reserve.

It covers an area of 354 sq.km and covers the Shivpuri district in Chambal region of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

This was named after Maharaj Madhav Rao Scindia, which used to be a royal hunting ground. Three tigers were introduced in 2023 in the Madhav National Park.

State with the Highest Tiger Reserves in India

Madhya Pradesh is the state with the highest number of tiger reserves in India.

It has 9 tiger reserves within its borders.

The nine tiger reserves situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh are:

1.Kanha Tiger Reserve

2.Pench Tiger Reserve

3.Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

4.Panna Tiger Reserve

5.Satpura Tiger Reserve

6.Sanjay Dhubri Tiger Reserve

7.Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

8.Ratapani Tiger Reserve

9.Madhav Tiger Reserve

State with the Lowest Tiger Reserves in India

The states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Mizoram consist of only one tiger reserve within their borders.

Project Tiger

Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation initiative, particularly for Bengal Tigers, of the Indian Government.

It was launched in the year 1973.

The primary objective of this Project Tiger initiative was to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population in their natural habitats by creating dedicated Tiger Reserves in various states.

It started with nine tiger reserves covering an area of 9115 sq. km.

It is a centrally sponsored scheme administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body constituted under Section 38 L (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

It comes under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Indian Government for the management of Project Tiger and the various tiger reserves in India.

NTCA was set up in December 2005 to protect Bengal tigers and their natural habitats in wild in India.

Its primary objective is to provide legal directives for the smooth implementation of Project Tiger.

It is also tasked with facilitating the relationship between the central and state governments and addressing the concerns of people living in the buffer zones of Tiger Reserves.

It is also responsible for monitoring and surveillance of tiger habitats, population estimation of tiger and prey and promotion of allied research.

India’s 57^th Tiger Reserve (Ratapani Tiger Reserve)

Ratapani Tiger Reserve in the state of Madhya Pradesh is India’s 57^th Tiger Reserve. It is also the eighth tiger reserve of the state of Madhya Pradesh.

It is situated near the Vindhya Hills and encompasses the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Ratpani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh consists of a total area of 1271 sq. km, with a buffer area of 507 sq. km.

It was originally established as the Ratpani Wildlife Sanctuary in 1976.

India’s 56^th Tiger Reserve (Guru Ghasidas – Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve)

Guru Ghasidas – Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve located in the state of Chhattisgarh is India’s 56^th Tiger Reserve.

It is nestled in the Chota Nagpur Plateau and partly in the Baghelkhand Plateau.

Guru Ghasidas – Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve has a core critical tiger habitat area of 2049 sq. km comprising of the Guru Ghasidas National Part and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.

It is the third largest tiger reserve in India followed after Nagarjunasagar – Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.

This is home to a wide variety of wildlife species such as Bengal Tiger, Chinkara, Indian Bison, Vultures, Langurs, Hyena, Jackal, leopards and sloth bear.

Previously Asked Questions in Government Competitive Exams Related to Tiger Reserves:

Q1. Consider the following protected areas:

1. Bandipur

2. Bhitarkarnika

3. Manas

4. Sunderbans

Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?

(a)1 and 2 only

(b)1, 2 and 4 only

(c)2, 3 and 4 only

(d)1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats?

(a) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

(b) Nallamala Forest

(c) Nagarhole National Park

(d) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve

Q3. Among the following tiger reserves, which one has the largest area under 'Critical Tiger Habitat'?

(a) Corbett Tiger Reserve

(b) Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

(c) Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Tiger Reserve

(d) Sunderbans Tiger Reserve