Why in News Indian Navy divers set two Guinness World Records at Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), Andaman & Nicobar Islands in early May 2026 – the largest Indian flag unfurled underwater and the tallest human stack underwater. The islands’ geography and strategic role have returned to focus. Separately, India’s semiconductor manufacturing push has accelerated with 12 ISM-approved units and an expanded ISM 2.0 budget.
Part I: Andaman & Nicobar – Geography and Strategic Significance
Guinness Records (May 2026)
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Largest Indian flag unfurled underwater | 60m x 40m flag at Radha Nagar Beach, Swaraj Dweep |
| Tallest human stack underwater | 10-metre-high diver formation |
| Achievers | Indian Navy divers |
| Location | Swaraj Dweep (formerly Havelock Island, renamed 2018) |
Geography of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total islands, islets, rocks | 836 |
| Location | Bay of Bengal |
| Channel separating Andaman and Nicobar | Ten Degree Channel |
| Largest island in A&N | North Andaman (~1,375 sq km) |
| Largest island in Nicobar group | Great Nicobar Island (~921 sq km) |
| Southernmost point of India | Indira Point (Great Nicobar) |
| Nearest international point | ~150 km from Banda Aceh/Sumatra, Indonesia |
| Renamed | Havelock -> Swaraj Dweep (2018); Neil -> Shaheed Dweep; Ross -> Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep |
Strategic Significance
- Located near the Strait of Malacca – one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes
- Houses India’s only tri-service command – Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) (est. 2001)
- Critical for Indian Ocean Region surveillance and maritime domain awareness
- Great Nicobar: Government approved a holistic development project (2022) worth Rs 72,000 crore – including a transhipment port, international airport, township, and power plant
Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
The islands are home to 5 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):
- Sentinelese – North Sentinel Island (no contact maintained)
- Jarawa – South and Middle Andaman
- Onge – Little Andaman
- Great Andamanese – Strait Island
- Shompen – Great Nicobar Island
Part II: India’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Programme
Background
India’s semiconductor ecosystem is near-zero today – virtually all chips are imported. Semiconductors are critical for smartphones, EVs, defence systems, satellites, medical devices, and AI infrastructure. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is India’s structural response to this gap.
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)
| Parameter | ISM 1.0 (2021) | ISM 2.0 (Budget 2026-27) |
|---|---|---|
| Outlay | Rs 76,000 crore | Enhanced allocation (Budget 2026-27) |
| Approved units | 12 units across multiple states | Expansion target |
| States covered | Gujarat, Assam, AP, UP, Odisha, Punjab | – |
| Ministry | MeitY | MeitY |
What’s Approved?
- 12 ISM-approved units as of May 2026
- First commercial GaN (Gallium Nitride)-based Mini/Micro-LED display facility approved – important for next-gen display technology
- ISM covers: semiconductor fabs, display fabs, compound semiconductors, packaging units
Why This Matters
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| China+1 strategy | Global supply chain shift post-COVID and US-China tech war |
| CHIPS Act competition | US, EU, Japan all offering massive incentives – India must match |
| Self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar) | Defence chips, satellite systems require domestic supply |
| EV growth | EV power management chips currently all imported |
| AI infrastructure | Datacentre chips – India wants manufacturing stake |
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 1 – Geography
- Andaman & Nicobar physical geography, Ten Degree Channel
- Indira Point – southernmost tip
- PVTGs of Andaman & Nicobar (5 groups)
GS Paper 2 – Polity and Governance
- Tri-service commands (ANC); India’s command structure
- Island development and tribal rights balance
GS Paper 3 – Economy and Science & Technology
- India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 1.0 and 2.0)
- Semiconductor supply chain and strategic importance
- GaN technology and display manufacturing
Mains Angles
- Examine the strategic importance of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the context of India’s Indian Ocean strategy.
- Critically assess India’s semiconductor manufacturing ambitions. What structural challenges must be overcome?
- How do tribal rights of PVTGs in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands balance against development imperatives?
Facts Corner – Knowledgepedia
A&N Islands:
- 836 islands, islets, rocks; Bay of Bengal
- Ten Degree Channel: separates Andaman and Nicobar
- Indira Point: southernmost point of India (Great Nicobar)
- Largest island in A&N: North Andaman (~1,375 sq km); largest in Nicobar group: Great Nicobar (~921 sq km)
- Nearest international point: ~150 km from Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- Swaraj Dweep: renamed from Havelock Island (2018)
- 5 PVTGs: Sentinelese, Jarawa, Onge, Great Andamanese, Shompen
- ANC (Andaman & Nicobar Command): India’s only tri-service command (2001)
- Guinness Records (May 2026): 60x40m flag + 10m human stack (Indian Navy divers)
India Semiconductor Mission:
- ISM 1.0: 2021; Rs 76,000 crore outlay; 12 approved units
- ISM 2.0: Budget 2026-27; enhanced allocation
- Ministry: MeitY
- First GaN-based Mini/Micro-LED display facility approved
- Key states: Gujarat, Assam, AP, UP, Odisha, Punjab
