At a Glance
Four facts to hold on to.
First
Maharashtra, 22 June 2015.
Butterfly
Blue Mormon, Papilio polymnestor.
Later states
Arunachal, Goa, Sikkim, J&K.
Why
Butterflies are bioindicators.
In this lesson
Maharashtra’s Blue Mormon
First state butterfly
- On 22 June 2015, Maharashtra declared the Blue Mormon its state butterfly.
- It was the first Indian state to name one.
- The decision came at a State Wildlife Board meeting in Mumbai.
About the butterfly
- The Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) has black, velvet wings with bright blue spots.
- It is found in Sri Lanka and South India.
- It also occurs in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and along coastal belts.
True or False: Maharashtra declared the Blue Mormon its state butterfly in 2015, becoming the first Indian state to name one.
Other States Followed
Arunachal Pradesh and Goa
- Arunachal Pradesh chose the Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis), a rare Himalayan swallowtail, in 2021.
- Goa chose the Malabar Tree-Nymph (Idea malabarica), also in 2021.
Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir
- Sikkim chose the Blue Duke (Bassarona durga) in 2022.
- Jammu and Kashmir chose the Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya) in 2023.
- It is the most recent Union Territory to do so.
True or False: Sikkim declared the Blue Duke its state butterfly in 2022, before Jammu and Kashmir’s 2023 declaration of the Blue Pansy.
Previous Year Questions
UPSC 2016 asked who was first.
- UPSC 2016Which state, for the first time in the country, declared a particular butterfly as State Butterfly? The answer is Maharashtra. Many states have one now, but Maharashtra was first, in 2015. Later declarations do not change that. View the question.
True or False: Because Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Jammu and Kashmir also have state butterflies now, Maharashtra is no longer considered India’s first to declare one.
Why State Symbols Are More Than Symbolic
A conservation tool
- Naming a state butterfly raises public awareness and support for habitat protection.
- Butterflies react to small changes in habitat quality.
- Their presence and variety work as a bioindicator of forest health.
Maharashtra’s numbers
- Maharashtra hosts around 225 recorded butterfly species.
- Many are concentrated in its Western Ghats belt.
Think it through: why name a state butterfly instead of only making forest rules?
A named symbol reaches ordinary people who never read a forest notification. It gives conservation a public face. Protecting what a butterfly needs, like host plants and clean air, protects far more of the ecosystem. Schools, media and tourism can also rally around something visible.
True or False: Butterflies are sensitive to small changes in habitat quality, making them a useful bioindicator for a forest ecosystem’s overall health.
Western Ghats Butterfly Survey (2026)
- From 26 February to 1 March 2026, the Kerala Forest Department and the Travancore Nature History Society ran a biodiversity survey.
- It covered the Vazhachal Wildlife Division in the Western Ghats.
- The survey recorded 175 butterfly species.
- 13 were newly added to the division’s checklist. Across all groups, 26 new species were added.
- About 50 experts and 50 forest staff ran 14 field camps at different elevations and habitats.
- Source: Outlook Traveller.
True or False: The 2026 Vazhachal survey recorded 175 butterfly species in total, with 13 newly added to the division’s checklist.
Quick Q&A
Which state was first?
Maharashtra.
When?
22 June 2015.
Which butterfly?
Blue Mormon.
Who decided?
The State Wildlife Board.
Why are butterflies useful?
They are bioindicators.
🎲 Practice: Maharashtra’s Blue Mormon: India’s First State Butterfly
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