Where was the first biosphere reserve set up in India ?

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve established in India, founded in September 1986 [t1][t2]. It is located in the Western Ghats and spans across the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka [t1][t10]. The reserve was created under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to conserve the genetic diversity of the region's unique ecosystems, which include evergreen forests and grasslands [t5][t10]. While India currently has 18 biosphere reserves, the Nilgiris hold the distinction of being the oldest and the first to be internationally designated [c2][t4][t5]. Other options like Lakshadweep and the Aravallis do not host the first reserve; the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) was established later in 1989 [c2]. The Nilgiris were also among the first Indian reserves included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2000 [c1].

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Biosphere_Reserve
2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > BIOSPHERE RESERVES > p. 49
3. [3] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > zoning of Biosphere reserves > p. 37