Terming the figures as "alarming" and a "cause of concern", wildlife experts said the population decline of the species could lead to serious ecological imbalance.
However, this is just a "conservative" estimate and the actual number could be much higher, warned the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, a strategic alliance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Pangolins, considered the most trafficked mammal species globally, are targeted mainly for their meat and scales.
"However, this is a conservative estimate and as only a fraction of illegal wildlife trade is detected, the actual number is likely to be far higher," a statement from TRAFFIC said.
More From This Section
Pangolin meat is also considered a delicacy and as a tonic food because of its unproven yet alleged medicinal properties while its scales are used as an ingredient in traditional medicines as they are believed to cure various ailments.
Most of the poaching and smuggling was believed to be targeted to international markets in China and Southeast Asia, the network said.
"Manipur and Tamil Nadu emerged as the hotspots for pangolin smuggling, where the majority of seizures took place," the study revealed.
Between 2009 to 2013, most of the 46 seizures were made in eastern or north-eastern parts of India, including Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and West Bengal.
Between 20142017, the majority of the 44 seizures were from southern and central parts of India, including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
The number of pangolins in illegal wildlife trade in India is of concern and without proper population estimates, the impact of such trade is unclear and could pose a significant threat to the species, Saket Badola, head of TRAFFICs India office, said.
"There is no better time than the World Pangolin Day to take urgent action for pangolins.
"Enforcement agencies should re-double their efforts to curtail poaching and illegal trade in pangolins through improved inter agency co-operation and co-ordination, and collaborate with their colleagues in transit and destination market countries to secure an international crackdown on the criminal elements orchestrating wildlife trafficking," he said.
International trade is prohibited under Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Indian Pangolin is found across almost all of the country while the distribution of the Chinese Pangolin in India is restricted to the north-east.
"The large number of pangolins in illegal wildlife trade is alarming, as a population decline of pangolins could lead to serious ecological imbalance.
"Pangolins, often called scaly anteaters, are considered farmers friends as they help to keep a check on populations of ants and termites and help improve soil quality," said Ravi Singh, CEO, WWF-India.
"More efforts to understand their status are necessary, simultaneously to plan future strategies for conservation of pangolins in the wild," he said.