SARISKA was first declared a reserved area in 1955 through a notification issued under the Rajasthan Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, 1951. Later, parts of it were declared a sanctuary and a national park under Section 35 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Different blocks of the reserved area have since been redesignated protected forests by four notifications -- in 1956, 1966, 1975 and 1986 -- issued under the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953.

The tiger reserve is also covered by notifications issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957.

A final notification was issued by the Central government on May 7, 1992, under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, prohibiting unauthorised mining.