An island is a small patch of land surrounded by a drastically diverse ecosystem, such as water. In India, there are two large island groups: one in the Bay of Bengal and one in the Arabian Sea. There are about 572 islands/islets in the Bay of Bengal island groupings. There are 1,382 islands off the coast of India that have been recognised. The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are India's two largest island groupings. This article will explain to you about The Island Groups which will be helpful in Geography preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

The Island Groups of India

• The Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are India's two largest island groups.
• A collision between the Indian Plate and the Burma Minor Plate, part of the Eurasian Plate, generated the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, similar to the development of the Himalayas.
• Myanmar's Arakan Yoma range extends southwest to include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The Lakshadweep Islands are a group of coral islands off the coast of India. These islands are part of the Reunion Volcanic Hotspot.
• Apart from these two groupings, there are islands in the Indo-Gangetic Delta and between India and Sri Lanka.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, are a short band running north-south between 6° 45′ N and 13° 45′ N.
• Around 265 large and tiny islands make up this archipelago.
• The Andaman and Nicobar islands stretch for around 590 kilometres between 6° 45′ N and 13° 45′ N, and from 92° 10′ E to 94° 15′ E.
• North, Middle, and South are the three main islands that make up the Andaman Islands.
• Little Andaman and South Andaman are separated by the Duncan Passage.
• The Ten Degree Channel separates the Great Andaman group of islands in the north from the Nicobar group in the south.
• The Grand Channel connects the Indonesian islands of Great Nicobar and Sumatra.
• The Coco Strait separates Myanmar's Coco Islands from the North Andaman Islands.
• Andaman's capital, Port Blair The Nicobar Islands are located in the South Andaman Islands.
• The Great Nicobar is the biggest of the Nicobar islands. It is the world's southernmost island, located near the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Car Nicobar is the furthest north.
• The majority of these islands are built up of tertiary sandstone, limestone, and shale, with basic and ultrabasic volcanoes as their foundation.
• The Barren and Narcondam Islands are volcanic islands located north of Port Blair.
• Coral reefs line the shores of some of the islands. Many of them are engulfed by dense trees. Mountainous terrain dominates the majority of the islands.
• The tallest mountain in North Andaman is Saddle Peak (737 m).
• The tropical marine climate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is affected by the seasonal flow of monsoon winds.
• The area is covered with thick tropical rain forests. Mangrove forests may be found along the shore.
• Coconut is the people's main source of nutrition. Fisheries and pig farming are also monitored.
• The Giant Robber Crab, the world's largest and rarest crab, is also found on the islands. It can climb coconut trees and crack the fruit's strong shell.
• A large number of islands are deserted. Also poorly populated are the inhabited islands.
• It is located in a significant earthquake zone, the entire region is prone to earthquakes.
• The Emerald Islands are another name for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The Sentinelese, the only known palaeolithic people, live on the Andaman Islands. The Sentinelese are one of the last peoples on the planet that have escaped contemporary civilization.
• The dugong (sea mammal) is the Andaman Islands' state animal. It is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific seacoast regions, particularly the Andaman Islands.

Lakshadweep Islands

• The Lakshadweep Islands, located in the Arabian Sea, are a group of 36 islands with a total size of 32 square kilometres and a latitude range of 8 to 12 degrees north.
• The Lakshadweep Islands are made up of the following main islands:
  • Kavaratti
  • Agatti
  • Minicoy
  • Amini
• Previously, the islands were known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi.
• The straits that divide these islands are quite tiny.
• It is India's tiniest Union Territory.
• The Lakshadweep Islands' administrative capital is Kavaratti. It's also the largest city in the Union Territory.
• It consists of 12 atolls, three reefs, five submerged banks, and 10 inhabited islands and is a single-district Union Territory.
• In Malayalam and Sanskrit, the term Lakshadweep means "a hundred thousand islands."
• The Lakshadweep Islands are located between 280 and 480 kilometres off the coast of Kerala.
• These islands are part of the Reunion Volcanic Hotspot.
• Coral deposits cover the whole Lakshadweep island group.
• Many people depend on fishing as their primary source of income.
• Storm beaches of the Lakshadweep islands are made up of unconsolidated pebbles, shingles, cobbles, and boulders.
• The biggest island in the Lakshadweep group is Minicoy Island, which is located to the south of the nine-degree canal.
• Minicoy and the Maldives are separated by the 8 Degree Channel (8 degrees north latitude).
• The island of Minicoy is separated from the main Lakshadweep archipelago by the 9 Degree Channel (9 degrees north latitude).
• Forests are non-existent in the Lakshadweep area.
• Pitti Island is home to sea turtles and a variety of pelagic birds, including the brown noddy, lesser crested tern, and larger crested tern. The island of Pitti has been designated as a bird sanctuary.
• The majority of the islands are low-lying, rising hardly more than five metres above sea level.
• Their landscape is flat, with no relief features like hills, streams, or valleys.

Other important Islands

New Moore Island

• New Moore is a tiny uninhabited offshore sandbar landform (Marine Landforms) in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta area. It is also known as South Talpatti and Purbasha Island.
• It first appeared in the Bay of Bengal in November 1970, following the Bhola cyclone. It keeps reappearing and then vanishes.
• Despite the fact that the island was deserted and had no permanent inhabitants or installations, it was claimed by both India and Bangladesh due to rumours about the presence of oil and natural gas in the vicinity.
• The disagreement over the Radcliffe Award technique for determining the maritime border between the two countries included the subject of sovereignty.

Diu Island

• It's off the shore of Kathiawar on the south coast. Diu is a small offshore island off the coast of India, off the coast of the Gulf of Cambay, in the Junagadh district. A tidal brook separates it from the Gujarat Coast.
• Limestone cliffs, rocky coves, and sandy beaches along the coast, the nicest of which may be found at Nagoa.
• The old Diu fort and gorgeous beaches are well-known on Diu Island. The skyline is dominated by a large fort erected by the Portuguese.
• The most well-known beach in Diu is Nagoa. Ghoghla Beach is another beautiful beach.

Majuli Island

• Majuli is a major river island in Assam, located on the Brahmaputra River.
• It was formed by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries, particularly the Lohit, changing course.
• It was formerly a piece of land located between the Brahmaputra River (north) and the Burhidihing River (south) (south).
• The Majuli Island was formed due to a shift in the Brahmaputra river stream induced by earthquakes in mediaeval times.
• Majuli is also the spiritual home of Assamese neo-Vaishnavites.

• Abdul Kalam Island/ Wheeler Island is a small island off the coast of Odisha. It is the most modern missile testing facility in India.
• Sagar Island is located in the Bay of Bengal's Ganga delta. It's a sizable island. It is also a significant Hindu pilgrimage site.
• Halliday Island is part of the Sundarbans area and is located in the state of West Bengal. It is situated in the Malta River. It has also been classified as a wildlife refuge.
• The state of Manipur is home to the Phumdis/Floating Islands. The Keibul Lamjao National Park includes it. It is well-known for its Eld's deer/Sangai.
• Munroe Island is an inland island group in Kerala, South India, located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River.

Significance of the Island Groups

• In general, India has two major island groups: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands.
• The importance of these islands in terms of naval and military bases for India's security.
• In oceans and seas, they can be utilised for surveillance and communication.
• They can be utilised as a naval port in the oceans to facilitate trade.
• They might be developed as a tourism destination, creating additional job possibilities.
• During symmetric and asymmetric battles, they can be utilised as a launch platform.
• The 'entry' and 'exit' sites to the Pacific Ocean from the Indian Ocean are the A&N Islands.
• The Lakshadweep Islands can be utilised as a lookout post for any vessel activity in the Arabian Sea.
• Provide a huge region of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with natural resource reserves to help India's economy.
• Due to their closeness to the following choke points, these islands would play a critical role in managing the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) during wars or crises.

Conclusion

India is split into 28 states and 8 union territories on a political level. Delhi is India's national capital. Two of these union territories are India's island groupings. India's two island groupings are the Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands. These island groupings are vital to the country's strategic interests. This archipelago of islands also has a wide range of vegetation and animals.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following is an active volcano in India?

A. Mount Etna
B. Kilauea
C. Barren Island
D. Mount Vesuvius

2. Which island group is located in the Arabian Sea?

A. Andaman and Nicobar
B. Maldives
C. Lakshadweep
D. Seychelles

3. What is the primary geological origin of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

A. Tectonic uplift
B. Volcanic activity
C. Coral formation
D. River deposition

4. Which of the following is a significant economic activity in the Lakshadweep Islands?

A. Agriculture
B. Mining
C. Fishing
D. Oil extraction

5. What type of ecosystem is most common in the Lakshadweep Islands?

A. Coral reefs
B. Mangroves
C. Rainforests
D. Alpine forests

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the ecological significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the challenges they face in terms of conservation.

Answer: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to diverse ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and rainforests, which provide habitats for various species. The islands are crucial for India's biodiversity conservation efforts. However, they face challenges such as deforestation, poaching, and the impact of climate change on coral reefs. Sustainable development policies are essential to protect these fragile ecosystems.

Q2: Examine the strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for India’s maritime security.

Answer: Located at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold significant strategic value for India’s maritime security. They allow India to monitor key international shipping lanes and enhance its naval presence in the Indian Ocean. The islands also serve as a military base for the Indian Navy, supporting national defense initiatives.

Q3: Compare the environmental challenges faced by the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Answer: Both the Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands face environmental challenges such as rising sea levels, coral bleaching, and habitat degradation. While Lakshadweep’s main concern is the degradation of coral reefs due to climate change, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands deal with deforestation and the threat to indigenous tribes. Both regions require targeted conservation efforts to address these issues.

Previous Year Questions

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020

Question: Which of the following Indian islands has a volcano?
A. Majuli
B. Barren Island
C. Lakshadweep
D. Sriharikota

Answer: B

Explanation: Barren Island, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is the only active volcano in India.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2016 (GS Paper 1)

Question: "Discuss the importance of island groups of India in terms of biodiversity and national security."

Answer: India’s island groups, particularly the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, are rich in biodiversity, including unique ecosystems like coral reefs and tropical rainforests. They are also strategically significant for national security, enabling India to monitor maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean and providing military outposts. However, these islands face environmental degradation and require sustainable management practices to protect their ecological and strategic value.