The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is an archipelago of 572 islands, of which about 31 are permanently inhabited, constituting a Union Territory of India. The islands are separated into two main groups by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel, with the capital, Port Blair, located in the South Andaman district. The territory was integrated as a Union Territory on November 1, 1956, following a history that included its use as a British penal colony, known as Kala pani, established in 1858.
As a Union Territory, its governance mechanism is headed by a Lieutenant Governor who acts as the executive head on behalf of the Central Government, and the territory notably lacks a formal legislative council. Judicial oversight is provided by the Calcutta High Court, which has a circuit bench operating in Port Blair. The islands are strategically vital as they are positioned at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, a critical global maritime chokepoint, making them a crucial fulcrum in the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic importance is underscored by the presence of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India's only integrated tri-service command.
The islands significantly extend India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), adding approximately 6,00,000 Sq.Km. Recently, the territory has seen major strategic upgrades, including the inauguration of the Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar undersea internet cable for high-speed connectivity. A significant ongoing change is the Great Nicobar Island Project, a large-scale development plan of "strategic, defence and national importance" that includes an international container transhipment terminal and a greenfield international airport.