India has 1,382 offshore islands, categorized into two major groups:
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal)
- Lakshadweep Islands (Arabian Sea)
Additionally, there are smaller islands along the coasts, riverine islands, and offshore sandbars.
1. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
📍 Location: Bay of Bengal
📍 Total Islands: 572 (Only 37 inhabited)
📍 Length: ~800 km from north to south
Key Features of Andaman & Nicobar Islands:
✅ Volcanic origin (Only active volcano in India – Barren Island)
✅ Great Nicobar Island – Southernmost part of India (Indira Point)
✅ Separated by 10° Channel
✅ Tribes: Jarwa, Onge, Sentinalese, Great Andamanese (Protected by law)
Divisions:
- Andaman Islands (North) – Port Blair (Capital), Cellular Jail, Havelock Island (Radhanagar Beach)
- Nicobar Islands (South) – Indira Point, Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
Economic & Strategic Importance:
🔹 Naval Bases – Important for India’s maritime security
🔹 Tourism – Scuba diving, coral reefs, beaches
🔹 Biodiversity – Dugong (State Animal), Saltwater Crocodiles
2. Lakshadweep Islands
📍 Location: Arabian Sea (~300 km west of Kerala)
📍 Total Islands: 36 (Only 10 inhabited)
📍 Total Area: 32 sq. km (Smallest Union Territory)
📍 Capital: Kavaratti
Key Features of Lakshadweep Islands:
✅ Coral Atolls and Lagoons (Atolls = Ring-shaped coral reefs)
✅ No rivers/lakes (Rainwater harvesting for drinking water)
✅ Economy: Coconut cultivation, fishing
✅ Tribes: Mostly Muslim population (Scheduled Tribes)
Important Islands in Lakshadweep:
🔹 Kavaratti Island – Administrative capital
🔹 Minicoy Island – Largest island
🔹 Bangaram Island – Tourism hub
3. Other Important Islands of India
A. Coastal Islands
- New Moore Island (Sundarbans, West Bengal) – Disputed between India and Bangladesh
- Wheeler Island (Odisha) – Missile testing site (Now named Abdul Kalam Island)
- Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) – ISRO’s launch center
B. Riverine & Inland Islands
- Majuli Island (Assam) – Largest river island in the world (Brahmaputra River)
- Umananda Island (Assam) – Smallest river island (Brahmaputra River)
4. Comparison: Andaman & Nicobar vs. Lakshadweep
| Feature | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Lakshadweep Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Bengal | Arabian Sea |
| Total Islands | 572 | 36 |
| Type | Volcanic & Coral | Coral Atolls |
| Capital | Port Blair | Kavaratti |
| Largest Island | Middle Andaman | Minicoy |
| Economy | Tourism, Fishing, Naval Base | Coconut, Fishing |
| Wildlife | Coral reefs, Dugong, Crocodiles | Coral reefs, Turtles |
5. Importance of Indian Islands
✅ Security & Defense – Naval bases in Andaman & Nicobar protect India’s maritime borders
✅ Economic Growth – Tourism, fisheries, coconut plantations
✅ Ecological Diversity – Coral reefs, endemic species, tropical rainforests
✅ Scientific & Space Research – Sriharikota (ISRO’s satellite launch center)
6. Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Which is the only active volcano in India?
a) Narcondam Island
b) Barren Island
c) Great Nicobar
d) Minicoy
✔ Answer: (b) Barren Island - Which is the largest river island in the world?
a) Sriharikota
b) New Moore Island
c) Majuli
d) Wheeler Island
✔ Answer: (c) Majuli - What separates Andaman Islands from Nicobar Islands?
a) 8° Channel
b) 10° Channel
c) Equator
d) Bay of Bengal
✔ Answer: (b) 10° Channel - Which island is famous for ISRO’s satellite launching station?
a) Wheeler Island
b) Sriharikota
c) Kavaratti
d) Havelock Island
✔ Answer: (b) Sriharikota - Which Union Territory has the smallest land area?
a) Andaman & Nicobar
b) Puducherry
c) Lakshadweep
d) Dadra & Nagar Haveli
✔ Answer: (c) Lakshadweep - Which is the southernmost point of India?
a) Kanyakumari
b) Indira Point
c) Rameswaram
d) Car Nicobar
✔ Answer: (b) Indira Point - Which is the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands?
a) Kavaratti
b) Port Blair
c) Havelock Island
d) Nicobar
✔ Answer: (b) Port Blair - What type of islands are the Lakshadweep Islands?
a) Volcanic
b) Coral
c) Rocky
d) Continental
✔ Answer: (b) Coral - Which island is a missile testing range in India?
a) Wheeler Island
b) Sriharikota
c) Rameswaram
d) Havelock Island
✔ Answer: (a) Wheeler Island - Which state/UT has the highest number of islands?
a) Gujarat
b) West Bengal
c) Andaman & Nicobar
d) Lakshadweep
✔ Answer: (c) Andaman & Nicobar
7. Short Answer Questions
- Which is the only active volcano in India?
- Barren Island (Andaman & Nicobar).
- Which island in the Andaman group has India’s southernmost point?
- Great Nicobar Island (Indira Point).
- What separates the Andaman Islands from Nicobar Islands?
- 10° Channel.
- Which Indian island is famous for space research?
- Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh).
- Which island is known for missile testing?
- Wheeler Island (Odisha) – Now Abdul Kalam Island.
- Which is the capital of Lakshadweep?
- Kavaratti.
- Which is the largest river island in the world?
- Majuli (Assam, Brahmaputra River).
- Which island in India is a major tourist attraction for coral reefs?
- Havelock Island (Andaman & Nicobar).
- Which is the largest island in Lakshadweep?
- Minicoy Island.
- Which is the smallest river island in India?
- Umananda Island (Assam).
✅ Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams:
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands = Volcanic + Coral, Strategic Importance
- Lakshadweep Islands = Coral Atolls, Smallest UT
- Major Islands = Sriharikota (Space), Wheeler Island (Missiles), Majuli (Largest River Island)
- Biodiversity & Tourism = Corals, Rainforests, Marine Life
📚 Useful for UPSC, SSC, State PSCs, and RRB Exams! Let me know if you need more details! 🚀✅