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Andaman And Nicobar Islands
Siriporn Tantipanyathep, the Consul General of Thailand in Kolkata, said it was time for both countries to unlock the immense potential of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and grow together as regional partners. "I expressed my sincere interest in learning more about the islands' development vision, progress, future direction, and aspirations, and how Thailand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can help each other to grow together while unlocking the potential," Tantipanyathep told PTI in an interview. "This is my first visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and I am truly delighted to be here. I have come with great optimism and a strong sense of purpose -- to further strengthen the long-standing friendship with the archipelago, and to explore potential areas for meaningful cooperation," the envoy said. She said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Thailand are already naturally connected by the same sea, historic trade routes, and shared regional opportunities. "We are much clo
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday cast doubt on the government's claims that the Great Nicobar infrastructure project would not displace any local tribes, questioning the need for a draft "Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan" if tribal communities were indeed unaffected. Citing a report, he said the Andaman and Nicobar administration has prepared a draft plan to "relocate" Nicobarese families affected by the project. "The bulldozer moves on unmindful of the concerns of the local communities," he said on X. "But there is a fundamental contradiction here: the Modi Government claims that the Great Nicobar Infra project will not disturb or displace tribes -- then why a relocation plan? Clearly, the claim is a lie," Ramesh said in the post, while also sharing a news article on the report. The report claims that a draft plan outlining the "relocation" of Nicobarese tribal communities affected by the Union government's Great Nicobar Island (GNI) mega-infrastructure project "to their
Andaman and Nicobar Islands saw the removal of 5,269 names from the draft electoral roll, as the final voters list was published after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on Saturday, officials said. The final electoral roll released by the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) has a total of 2,58,040 electors, they said. The revision was carried out from October 27 last year to February 21. Out of the 3,10,404 electors enrolled in the Electoral Roll as on October 27, 2025, a total of 64,014 ineligible electors have been removed in the draft roll. "Subsequently, the statutory period for filing Claims and Objections was conducted, during which 16,919 were added and 5,269 ineligible electors were deleted," according to a statement by the CEO's office. As on February 21, 2026, the updated and validated list has names of 2,58,040 electors, it said. Of the total number of 2,58,040 voters, 4,070 are in the 18-19 age group, 2,252 are marked as Persons with Disabilities, and 67
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cleared the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal in Great Nicobar Island, saying adequate safeguards had been provided in the environmental clearance (EC) conditions. The eastern zonal bench of Kolkata, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, passed the order on Monday while hearing the objections to the proposed terminal, township, area development and a 450 MVA gas and solar-based power plant. Earlier, a batch of petitions challenged the clearances granted for the project, claiming violations of the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification. This was the second round of litigation concerning the project. In April 2023, the tribunal largely upheld the EC while constituting a high-powered committee (HPC) to examine specific concerns. "We find that adequate safeguards have been provided in the EC conditions and in the first round of litigation the tribunal had refused to interfere in the EC and remaining
The Congress on Friday alleged that the Great Nicobar project is being "bulldozed through" by the Modi government and said it is attempting to bring in private players into the venture at a time when it has refused to disclose key details to the general public on the grounds of national security. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that the Centre is moving on its ambitious plan to develop the Galathea Bay International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) project, in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, in a public-private partnership (PPP) framework. The former environment minister said the Great Nicobar project is being "bulldozed" through by the Modi government even though there is mounting evidence that it will have "disastrous ecological impacts". The project has evoked widespread concern, and petitions against the manner in which environmental and other laws have been flouted to push it along are pending in
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that Andaman & Nicobar Islands will become a major contributor to the country's treasury in 10 years. He also expressed optimism that in two years, India will advance to become the third-largest economy in the world from the current fourth. Shah was speaking at the inauguration and foundation stone-laying of various projects worth Rs 373 crore in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which he described as a pilgrimage site when it comes to India's independence struggle. Hinting at the International transhipment project, oil exploration trial and other developmental projects in the archipelago, the Union Home Minister said this group of islands was once considered a drain on the country's treasury. But today, under (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji's vision, I am confident that after the next 10 years, this island group will be a major contributor to the country's treasury. Not the least, India has now become the fourth-largest economy, and
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday inaugurated the upgraded runway at the IAF's Car Nicobar air base in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The CDS arrived in Car Nicobar island around 11.30 am and was welcomed by Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) and several other senior officials. "The CDS inaugurated the resurfaced and upgraded runway at the Indian Air Force's Car Nicobar Air Base," an official said. Located nearly 535 km from Sri Vijaya Puram, Car Nicobar in Nicobar district suffered the maximum damage during the 2004 Tsunami. "The upgraded runway will give more strength to the eastern front due to its direct strategic oversight of the Malacca Strait - a global maritime lifeline/passage for international trade and energy supplies through ships. It will give the Indian Air Force (IAF) more ability for quick air operations," the senior official said. The apron areas have been expanded for smooth aircraft ...
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive here on Friday for a three-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to chair a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee of his ministry the next day, officials said. Shah is expected to reach the airport here around 9.30 pm and will be received by Lieutenant Governor Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi and other officials. This will be Shah's second visit to Sri Vijaya Puram in less than a month, after he had come here on December 12 to attend a function commemorating the 116th anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's poem, Sagara Pran Talamala'. Shah is scheduled to chair a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on crucial national issues in Wandoor in Sri Vijaya Puram on Saturday and later he will attend an event on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) auditorium in Dollygunj," said a senior official of the Andaman and Nicobar ...
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the first week of January to chair a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee, an official said on Tuesday. Shah is likely to arrive here on January 2. He will be received by Lt Governor Admiral D K Joshi (Retd) at the airport, the official said. The Home minister will chair the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 3, he said. "On January 3, Shah will interact with the Parliamentary Consultative Committee in Wandoor, and later he will attend an event on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) auditorium in Dollygunj," the official said. Shah will depart from the archipelago on January 4. The Home minister had visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands on December 12 to commemorate the 116th anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's (Veer Savarkar) iconic poem, 'Sagara Pran Talamala'. The Chief of Defence S
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat are scheduled to unveil a statue of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, officials said. Shah arrived here around 12.30 am, while Bhagwat reached the archipelago on Thursday evening, they said. Bhagwat and Shah are scheduled to unveil the statue of Savarkar at Beodnabad in South Andaman around 2.30 pm, the officials said. They will also be present at an event to release a song on Savarkar at BR Ambedkar Institute of Technology here around 4 pm. Savarkar was jailed in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair (now known as Sri Vijaya Puram) by the British in 1911. The Union home minister is likely to leave the islands on Friday evening. Bhagwat is scheduled to address a public gathering on Saturday under the banner of 'Virat Hindu Sammelan' at Netaji Stadium around 3.30 pm in Sri Vijaya Puram, the officials said. On Sunday, the RSS chief will attend another gathering at DBRAIT around 10 am, and depa
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a day to commemorate the 116th anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's iconic poem Sagara Pran Talamala', officials said on Tuesday. A senior official said they have received preliminary information about Shah's arrival either on December 11 or 12 at the Veer Savarkar International Airport, but the final itinerary is awaited. Police sources said that according to initial information, Shah will attend an event on December 12 in Beodnabad in South Andaman, where a statue of Savarkar will be unveiled. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is also scheduled to attend the ceremony. In the evening, the home minister is likely to address a public gathering at the Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) in Sri Vijaya Puram, where a song dedicated to Savarkar will be formally released. "He is also supposed to inaugurate a newly built forensic science laboratory in Sri Vijaya Puram
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify from November 21, an official said on Thursday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall (07-20 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Nicobar Island and heavy rainfall (07-11 cm) is also expected in Andaman Island. "Thunderstorms with gusty wind (40-50 kilometres per hour) and lightning are also very likely to occur at one or two places over Andaman and Nicobar Islands on November 24 and 25," the official said. Squally weather with surface wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is very likely over the Andaman Sea. "Sea condition is also likely to be rough. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Andaman Sea till November 23. We have issued a Local Cautionary Signal-3 at Port Blair Port," the official said. Due to the possibility of surging waves, boat owners, islanders and touris