Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam Highlighted in Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the ecological recovery and the return of elephants to the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary during the 138th episode of Mann Ki Baat. Situated in Assam's Sonitpur district, the sanctuary covers an area of 220 square kilometres along the Himalayan foothills.
What happened
During the 138th episode of his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat, on 27 September 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the revival of the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam. The Prime Minister highlighted that elephant herds had previously migrated away from the sanctuary due to rising human encroachment and habitat disturbances, but have now returned following targeted clearance of illegal occupations over the preceding three years.
Following the broadcast, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that decades-old encroached forest lands had been reclaimed to restore corridors and facilitate the free movement of wildlife. According to the Assam Forest Department's 2024 elephant census, 140 elephants were recorded inside the sanctuary.
The habitat restoration was carried out in phases by the Western Assam Wildlife Division under Divisional Forest Officer Piraisoodan B, IFS. The recovery involved reclaiming approximately 150 hectares of land, which included 41 hectares at Lama Camp handed over by the Indian Army during the 2023–24 financial year.
In the same episode, the Prime Minister also highlighted Assam's successful pygmy hog conservation efforts. He noted that an initiative that started with just six pygmy hogs has successfully expanded their wild population to over 190.
Important dates
| Original declaration as a Game Sanctuary | 1934 |
|---|---|
| Official Wildlife Sanctuary notification | 4 September 1998 |
| 138th Mann Ki Baat broadcast | 27 September 2026 |
📌 Static GK links
- State: Assam
- District: Sonitpur
- Capital of Assam: Dispur
- Notification Year: 1998
- Geographical Zone: Foothills of the Eastern Himalayas
- Total Area: Approximately 220 square kilometres (core area ~175 sq km)
What candidates should do
- Mark Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary on the map of Assam alongside neighbouring protected areas in the Eastern Himalayan foothills.
- Memorise the basic facts of the sanctuary (district, year of notification, key species) for SSC and State PSC objective sections.
- Revise recent wildlife census figures and conservation programmes mentioned in national addresses, as they frequently appear in current affairs questions.
PrepZen analysis
Protected areas mentioned in high-profile addresses such as Mann Ki Baat frequently appear in competitive examinations like UPSC Prelims, State PSCs, and SSC CGL. Questions typically test location, state, year of notification, or ecological features.
The inter-agency coordination highlighted in Sonai-Rupai—involving the Assam Forest Department and the Indian Army's transfer of land at Lama Camp—serves as an illustrative case study for administrative and environmental governance questions.
Practice questions
Q1. Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, which was recently in the news, is located in which district of Assam?
Q2. In which year was the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary officially notified as a wildlife sanctuary by the Government of Assam?
Q3. According to the Assam Forest Department's 2024 census, how many elephants were recorded in Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary?
Located in Assam's Sonitpur district, covering 220 square kilometres.
Established along the Himalayan foothills, notified as sanctuary in 1998.
🎯 Key Point: Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Sonitpur, Assam.
FAQs
Where is Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary located?
It is located in the Sonitpur district of Assam, along the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, approximately 52 km from Tezpur.
Why was Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary featured in the 138th Mann Ki Baat episode?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the sanctuary for its ecological recovery and the return of elephant herds after decades of human encroachment were cleared.
What is the total geographical area of Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary?
The sanctuary covers an area of approximately 220 square kilometres, with a core area of about 175 square kilometres.
What conservation project besides elephants was praised during the same address?
The Prime Minister praised Assam's pygmy hog conservation initiative, noting that the population in the wild had expanded from an initial group of six to over 190.
Official sources
- pmindia.gov.in (www.pmindia.gov.in) Official
- newsonair.gov.in (newsonair.gov.in) Official
- incredibleindia.gov.in (www.incredibleindia.gov.in) Official
- thestatesman.com (www.thestatesman.com)
Prepared by the PrepZen Editorial Team from official releases and verified reports, for exam preparation. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
Practice Quiz — 30 September 2026
Q1. Which traditional musical instrument of Jharkhand was recently granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag?
Q2. Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, which was recently mentioned in Mann Ki Baat, is situated in which state?
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the FASTag Annual Pass: 1. It is valid for 1 year or 200 toll-plaza crossings, whichever is earlier. 2. It was launched on 15 August 2025. 3. It can be purchased for commercial freight vehicles only. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q4. With the addition of five new heritage sites and proposals, how many total properties/proposals are now on India's UNESCO Tentative List?
Q5. Which of the following ports is NOT among the four ports notified as Mega Ports under Section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025?
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