Introduction

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands one of the seven union territories of India, located in the east of the Indian mainland geographically situated at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. It is a collection of around 572 islets, mostly covered with dense rain-fed, damp and evergreen forests and endless varieties of exotic flora and fauna.

It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands (partly) and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel. Most of these islands (about 550) are in the Andaman Group, 28 of which are inhabited. The smaller Nicobars, comprise some 22 main islands (10 inhabited). The Andaman and Nicobars are separated by the Ten Degree Channel which is 150 Kms. wide.

Its capital city is Port Blair.  

The territory is divided into three districts:

1. Nicobar District with Car Nicobar as capital,
2. South Andaman district with Port Blair as capital and
3. North and Middle Andaman district with Mayabunder as capital.

In December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, renamed three of the islands as a tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

• The Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep;
• the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep;
• and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. 

The Andaman Islands are home to the Sentinelese people, an uncontacted people. The Sentinelese are the only people currently known to not have reached further than a Paleolithic level of technology.

Key Points

• Significant landmarks :
  • Cellular Jail
  • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island
  • Viper Island
  • Hopetown
  • Mount Harriet
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been declared as two of the 218 endemic bird area of the world.
• As many as 270 species and sub-species of birds have been reported existing in these islands, 106 of them being endemic.
• The Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Padauk and Dugong (also known as the sea cow, which can be found in Little Andaman) are declared as State Bird, State Tree and State Animal respectively.
• There are about 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries, nine National Parks and one Biosphere Reserve in the islands.
• These islands are blessed with the bounties of both south-west and north-east monsoons.