Islands of India: Quick Answer
India has 1,382 officially recognised offshore islands (2016 official list — the figure exams expect), spread across the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the mainland coast. The two great groups are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal — 572 islands — and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea — 36 islands. The largest island group is the Andamans; the smallest union territory is Lakshadweep (32 sq km). The southernmost point of India is Indira Point on Great Nicobar, and India's only active volcano is Barren Island in the Andamans. This note lists 40 major islands with their locations and importance, as of 7 November 2026.
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Total islands = 1,382 (2016 official list). Andaman & Nicobar = 572 (38 inhabited in most lists). Lakshadweep = 36 (10 inhabited). Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman and Nicobar groups. Eight Degree Channel separates Lakshadweep (Minicoy) from the Maldives. Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy from the rest of Lakshadweep. Indira Point (Great Nicobar) = southernmost point of India. Barren Island = India's only active volcano. Majuli (Assam) = largest river island in the world.
The Counts — and Why Sources Disagree
The 1,382 figure is the standard exam answer, but it is not the only count in circulation, and this note records the others rather than hiding them. A later Survey of India reconciliation gives 1,389 islands and islets in all. For the Andaman and Nicobar group, the exam-standard count is 572, but the current official count used by the UT administration is 836 islands, islets and rocks — the difference is that the newer count includes tiny islets and rocks the older count left out. The inhabited count is similarly unsettled: most lists say 38 of the 572 are inhabited; some say 37; the current official count says 31 are permanently inhabited. Lakshadweep is stable at 36 islands, with 10 inhabited in most lists (one list says 11). For exams, use 1,382 / 572 / 36 and 38 / 10 inhabited — those are the convergent figures — and know that the 836 and 1,389 variants exist.
Life on the Islands
The islands are not empty dots on a map — about 380,000 people live in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and about 64,000 in Lakshadweep, and their human geography is as exam-relevant as their physical geography. The Andamans are home to some of the world's most isolated peoples: the Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, the Onge and the Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island, who remain uncontacted and are protected by law — the island is off-limits to everyone. The Nicobar group is home to the Nicobarese and the Shompen, both listed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Settlers from the mainland — Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi-speaking communities — form the majority in the Andamans, and Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) is a genuinely multilingual town. Lakshadweep's people speak Malayalam, except on Minicoy, where they speak Mahl — a form of Dhivehi, the language of the Maldives — which is why Minicoy's culture looks south to Malé rather than north to Kochi.
Both island UTs are administered directly by the Centre through a Lieutenant Governor (Andaman & Nicobar) and an Administrator (Lakshadweep). The economies run on fishing, coconut cultivation, tourism and government services; the Andamans also have timber and the islands' strategic value — they sit astride the sea lanes between the Bay of Bengal and the Strait of Malacca, which is why Sri Vijaya Puram hosts India's only tri-services command. Tourism is tightly controlled in the Nicobars and on North Sentinel, and even in the Andamans many islands need permits — a fact that surprises candidates who picture the islands as an open beach destination.
Latest: Island Facts as of 2026
| Item | Status as of 7 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Island count (exam standard) | 1,382 offshore islands (2016 official list); 1,389 in the later Survey of India reconciliation |
| Andaman & Nicobar count | 572 (exam standard) / 836 including islets and rocks (current official count) |
| Lakshadweep count | 36 islands, 10 inhabited, 12 atolls, 3 reefs, 5 submerged banks |
| Renamed islands (2018) | Ross Island → Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep; Neil Island → Shaheed Dweep; Havelock Island → Swaraj Dweep |
| Great Nicobar project | The Great Nicobar mega-project (port, airport, township) is under development — the largest infrastructure project on any Indian island |
| Indira Point | Southernmost point of India, on Great Nicobar (6°45′ N) |
Islands of India: Complete List (40 Major Islands)
One table, 40 islands, grouped by Andaman, Nicobar, Lakshadweep and mainland coastal/river islands. The 2018 renames are given with the old names in brackets, because old lists still use them.
| # | Island | Group / Location | State / UT | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Andaman | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Northernmost of Great Andaman; Diglipur is its main town |
| 2 | Middle Andaman | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Largest island of the Andaman group (about 1,536 sq km); Rangat is its main town |
| 3 | South Andaman | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), the UT capital, is here |
| 4 | Little Andaman | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Hut Bay; separated from South Andaman by Duncan Passage |
| 5 | Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Tourism hub; Radhanagar Beach |
| 6 | Shaheed Dweep (Neil) | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Known for coral reefs and natural bridge |
| 7 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross) | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Former British administrative headquarters |
| 8 | Baratang | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Limestone caves and mud volcano |
| 9 | Barren Island | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | India's only active volcano |
| 10 | Narcondam | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Dormant volcano; home of the Narcondam hornbill |
| 11 | North Sentinel | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Home of the Sentinelese tribe; entry prohibited |
| 12 | Interview Island | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Known for its wild elephants |
| 13 | Landfall Island | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Northernmost island of India |
| 14 | Rutland Island | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Near Sri Vijaya Puram; rich marine life |
| 15 | Long Island | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Known for its beaches and Lalaji Bay |
| 16 | Cinque Islands | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | North and South Cinque; popular dive site |
| 17 | Chatham Island | Andaman group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Old saw mill; part of Sri Vijaya Puram |
| 18 | Great Nicobar | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Largest Nicobar island; Indira Point (southernmost point of India) |
| 19 | Car Nicobar | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Administrative HQ of Nicobar district |
| 20 | Nancowry | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Natural harbour; central Nicobar |
| 21 | Kamorta | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Part of the Nancowry township; central Nicobar |
| 22 | Katchal | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Badly hit by the 2004 tsunami |
| 23 | Little Nicobar | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | North of Great Nicobar; Pulo Milo nearby |
| 24 | Chowra | Nicobar group, Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar | Small island of the central Nicobar group |
| 25 | Kavaratti | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Capital of Lakshadweep |
| 26 | Agatti | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Has Lakshadweep's only airport |
| 27 | Minicoy (Maliku) | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Southernmost Lakshadweep island; separated by the Nine Degree Channel |
| 28 | Amini | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Amindivi group; known for coir craft |
| 29 | Kadmat | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Longest island of Lakshadweep; lagoons |
| 30 | Kalpeni | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Known for its coral debris and lagoons |
| 31 | Bangaram | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Uninhabited tourist island |
| 32 | Andrott (Androth) | Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea | Lakshadweep | Largest island of Lakshadweep |
| 33 | Majuli | Brahmaputra river, Assam | Assam | Largest river island in the world |
| 34 | Sriharikota | Bay of Bengal coast, Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh | ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre |
| 35 | Diu | Arabian Sea coast, Gujarat | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Portuguese heritage; Diu Fort |
| 36 | Pamban (Rameswaram) | Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu | Pamban Bridge; Ramanathaswamy Temple |
| 37 | Sagar Island | Hooghly delta, West Bengal | West Bengal | Gangasagar Mela pilgrimage |
| 38 | Vypin | Arabian Sea coast, Kerala | Kerala | Near Kochi; fishing and coconut cultivation |
| 39 | Salsette | Arabian Sea coast, Maharashtra | Maharashtra | Mumbai stands on Salsette — India's most populous island |
| 40 | Divar / Chorao | Mandovi river, Goa | Goa | River islands of Goa's estuary |
The channels — the most-asked island facts
| Channel | Separates | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Ten Degree Channel | Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands | "Ten" = between the two groups of one UT |
| Eight Degree Channel | Lakshadweep (Minicoy) and the Maldives | "Eight" = India from the Maldives |
| Nine Degree Channel | Minicoy and the rest of Lakshadweep | "Nine" = inside Lakshadweep |
| Duncan Passage | South Andaman and Little Andaman | Inside the Andaman group |
| Coco Channel | Landfall Island (India) and Coco Islands (Myanmar) | India's northern sea boundary in the Andamans |
Islands of India: Records and Unique Facts
| Record | Answer |
|---|---|
| Total offshore islands in India | 1,382 (2016 official list; 1,389 in the later reconciliation) |
| Largest island group | Andaman & Nicobar — 572 islands |
| Smallest union territory | Lakshadweep — 36 islands, 32 sq km |
| Southernmost point of India | Indira Point, Great Nicobar (6°45′ N) |
| Northernmost island of India | Landfall Island, Andaman |
| India's only active volcano | Barren Island, Andaman |
| India's only dormant volcano island | Narcondam, Andaman |
| Largest river island in the world | Majuli, Assam (Brahmaputra) |
| Largest island of Lakshadweep | Andrott (Androth) |
| Most populous island in India | Salsette (Mumbai), Maharashtra |
| Only island UT capital in the Bay of Bengal | Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), South Andaman |
One-line facts that are asked in exams
- Sri Vijaya Puram (renamed from Port Blair on 13 September 2024) is on South Andaman and is the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands; the Cellular Jail there is the "Kala Pani" of the freedom struggle.
- Barren Island is India's only active volcano — it has erupted repeatedly in recent decades, most recently in the 2020s; Narcondam, nearby, is dormant.
- Indira Point on Great Nicobar is the southernmost point of India at 6°45′ N; it was partly submerged by the 2004 tsunami.
- Majuli in Assam is the world's largest river island, in the Brahmaputra; it is the centre of Assamese Vaishnavite culture and is shrinking from erosion.
- Sriharikota is a barrier island in Andhra Pradesh that hosts the Satish Dhawan Space Centre — India's main rocket launch site.
- Diu was Portuguese until 1961; the Diu Fort and the island's churches are the exam-relevant heritage.
- Minicoy is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep and is culturally closer to the Maldives — its people speak Mahl, a form of Dhivehi.
- North Sentinel is home to the Sentinelese, one of the world's last uncontacted peoples; entry is prohibited by law.
- Radhanagar Beach on Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) has been rated among Asia's best beaches.
- The 2004 tsunami hit the Nicobar group hardest — Katchal and Car Nicobar lost large parts of their population and coastline.
Common Mistakes in Islands Questions
- 1,382 vs 572 vs 36: 1,382 is the total for India; 572 is the Andaman & Nicobar group; 36 is Lakshadweep. Never answer a total-islands question with 572.
- Ten Degree Channel vs Eight Degree Channel: Ten Degree separates Andaman from Nicobar (inside one UT); Eight Degree separates Lakshadweep from the Maldives (India from another country). The numbers are the trap.
- Indira Point is not Kanyakumari: Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of mainland India; Indira Point (Great Nicobar) is the southernmost point of India overall.
- Barren Island is active, Narcondam is dormant: both are volcanic islands in the Andamans, but only Barren erupts. Do not call Narcondam active.
- Ross / Neil / Havelock were renamed in 2018: the current names are Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep. Old lists use the old names — exams increasingly use the new ones.
- Lakshadweep is the smallest UT, not the smallest island group: Lakshadweep (32 sq km) is India's smallest union territory; the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (8,249 sq km) are far larger.
- Majuli is a river island, not a sea island: it sits in the Brahmaputra in Assam. A question about "largest river island" wants Majuli, not any Andaman island.
- Sriharikota is in Andhra Pradesh, not Tamil Nadu: the island is in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, just north of the Tamil Nadu border.
- Salsette is an island: Mumbai stands on Salsette Island — many candidates forget Mumbai is on an island at all.
- Inhabited counts vary: 38 (most lists) vs 37 vs 31 (current official) for the Andamans; 10 vs 11 for Lakshadweep. The note gives the convergent figures and flags the variants — do not treat any single count as exact to the island.
How to Remember Islands in India (Study Method)
- Learn the three numbers: 1,382 total → 572 Andaman & Nicobar → 36 Lakshadweep. "1382-572-36".
- Learn the three channels: Ten Degree (Andaman–Nicobar), Eight Degree (Lakshadweep–Maldives), Nine Degree (Minicoy–rest of Lakshadweep). "10 inside, 8 outside, 9 inside Lakshadweep".
- Learn the two extremes: Indira Point (south, Great Nicobar) and Landfall Island (north, Andaman).
- Learn the two volcanoes: Barren = active, Narcondam = dormant.
- Learn the three renames: Ross → Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep; Neil → Shaheed Dweep; Havelock → Swaraj Dweep.
Islands of India MCQs with Answers
Q1. How many offshore islands does India officially have (2016 list)? (a) 572 (b) 836 (c) 1,382 (d) 1,389 Answer: (c) 1,382 (1,389 is the later Survey of India reconciliation).
Q2. The Ten Degree Channel separates: (a) Lakshadweep and Maldives (b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (c) Minicoy and Lakshadweep (d) India and Sri Lanka Answer: (b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Q3. Which is the southernmost point of India? (a) Kanyakumari (b) Indira Point (c) Landfall Island (d) Minicoy Answer: (b) Indira Point, Great Nicobar.
Q4. India's only active volcano is located on: (a) Narcondam Island (b) Barren Island (c) Great Nicobar (d) Havelock Island Answer: (b) Barren Island.
Q5. How many islands are there in the Lakshadweep group? (a) 32 (b) 36 (c) 572 (d) 247 Answer: (b) 36.
Q6. The Eight Degree Channel separates Lakshadweep from: (a) Sri Lanka (b) Maldives (c) Andaman Islands (d) Sumatra Answer: (b) Maldives.
Q7. Which is the largest river island in the world? (a) Majuli (b) Sagar Island (c) Salsette (d) Pamban Answer: (a) Majuli, Assam (Brahmaputra).
Q8. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located on which island? (a) Sriharikota (b) Diu (c) Swaraj Dweep (d) Kavaratti Answer: (a) Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Q9. Which island is the capital of Lakshadweep located on? (a) Agatti (b) Minicoy (c) Kavaratti (d) Andrott Answer: (c) Kavaratti.
Q10. Ross Island was renamed in 2018 as: (a) Swaraj Dweep (b) Shaheed Dweep (c) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (d) Indira Point Answer: (c) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.
Islands of India FAQs
How many islands are there in India?
1,382 offshore islands (2016 official list) — 572 in the Andaman & Nicobar group and 36 in Lakshadweep, the rest along the mainland coast.
Which is the largest island group in India?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, with 572 islands.
What is the southernmost point of India?
Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island (6°45′ N).
Which is India's only active volcano?
Barren Island in the Andaman group; Narcondam Island nearby is dormant.
What is the Ten Degree Channel?
The channel separating the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands.
Which is the smallest union territory of India?
Lakshadweep — 36 islands over 32 sq km.
What is Majuli famous for?
It is the world's largest river island, in the Brahmaputra in Assam, and the centre of Assamese Vaishnavite culture.
Related topics: revise States and Capitals of India 2026, Ramsar Sites in India 2026 List, National Parks in India List 2026, Major Ports in India List and Static GK for SSC CGL next.
Practice Next
- Test yourself: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
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- More free notes: All Study Notes
Sources: JagranJosh, How Many Islands Are There in India; Testbook, Major Islands of India; Vajiram and Ravi, The Indian Islands; LotusArise, Islands of India and Important Islands of India; Adda247, Islands of India. Count conflicts recorded in the notes above are from these sources. As of 7 November 2026.