Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Land-locked or maritime-hesitant nations inevitably find themselves at the mercy of those who command the oceans. For India, blessed with one of the longest coastlines and a commanding position astride the Indian Ocean, the imperative is stark: it must fully realise its maritime potential or risk remaining a continental giant overshadowed by true blue-water powers.

The government's choice to develop Great Nicobar is not a concession to development lobbyists. It is the result of a collaborative process that included WII, ZSI, BSI, SACON, the EAC, the NGT, a public hearing in Campbell Bay, and the courts.

Sonia Gandhi’s article is less an environmental plea than a political tactic. By crying “disaster” at every bold step forward, Congress reveals not vision but fear of change. The real disaster would be to let such alarmism derail India’s strategic future.

A 24-year-old US national was arrested for illegally going to the Northern Sentinel Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 31st March. The man named Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was reportedly arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for attempting to venture into the forbidden island without authorisation.

It is believed that this action places the Rs 44,000 crore mega project under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, thus rendering it capable of receiving central funding.

Examining the causes behind Chola king Rajendra’s invasion of Srivijaya, noted historian Nilakanta Sastri in his book Colas writes that there is ample material to believe that initially not only Rajaraja Chola but his son Rajendra also had friendly ties with Srivijaya.

The Union Government on Friday decided to rename Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Sri Vijaya Puram

India has 12 major ports under central control and around 200 non-major ports managed by state governments.