Wetlands nurture not just Ecosystems but Communities, Culture and Livelihoods: Shri Bhupender Yadav

• Statement by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav on World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026, reframing wetlands as socio-cultural-livelihood assets, not merely ecological units.
• India has expanded its Ramsar network from 26 (2014) to 98 sites, the largest in Asia — a core Prelims/Mains data point on environmental governance.
• Maps to Environment (GS-III), Conservation policy (Amrit Dharohar, MISHTI, Mission Sahbhagita), and India's Ramsar Convention obligations.