Andaman Islands
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Overview
The Andaman Islands form the northern part of the Andaman and Nicobar union territory in the Bay of Bengal. The islands are the tops of a submerged mountain chain that continues the Arakan Yoma of Myanmar, and Barren Island here has India's only active volcano.
The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andamans from the Nicobar Islands to the south. The Andamans fall in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, and the whole island group lies in seismic zone V, the highest hazard category.
Geography and key facts
- Union territory: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal)
- Barren Island: India's only active volcano
- Separated from the Nicobars by the Ten Degree Channel
- Part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot
- Seismic zone V
Why it matters for UPSC
Prelims has asked about the Ten Degree Channel (2014), coral reefs (2014), mangrove-evergreen-deciduous forests (2015), the Onge tribe (2004), Saddle Peak (1996) and, recently, the islands' climate (2026).
Note for UPSC
Union territory island group in the Bay of Bengal; Barren Island has India's only active volcano.
Questions cover island groups, channels between them and their geography.
Asked in PYQs
- UPSC Prelims 2026 · Q23With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct ? Select the answer using the code given below :…
- UPSC Prelims 2016 · Q45Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which…
- UPSC Prelims 2015 · Q38Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?…
- UPSC Prelims 2014 · Q3Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the 'Ten Degree Channel'?…
- UPSC Prelims 2014 · Q41Which of the following have coral reefs? Select the correct answer using the code given below.…
- UPSC Prelims 2010 · Q20Consider the following statements : Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?…
- UPSC Prelims 2008 · Q25Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?…
- UPSC Prelims 2008 · Q145Which one among the following has the maximum number of National Parks?…
- UPSC Prelims 2004 · Q14In which one of the following Union Territories, do the people of the Onge tribe live?…
- UPSC Prelims 1999 · Q84As per 1991 Census, which one of the following groups of Union Territories had the highest literacy rate?…
- UPSC Prelims 1997 · Q57The tribal population in Andaman and Nicobar Islands belongs to the…
- UPSC Prelims 1996 · Q48'Saddle Peak', the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is located in…
- UPSC Prelims 1996 · Q84The Palk Bay lies between…
- UPSC Prelims 1995 · Q32“Monoculture of commercially viable trees is destroying the unique natural profile of ……… Thoughtless exploitation of timber, deforesting vast tracts for palm cultivation…
Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Andaman Islands.
Key facts
- Type
- Island group
- State / UT
- Andaman and Nicobar
- Coordinates
- 12.500°N, 92.750°E
- Asked in Prelims
- 14 questions · 2026, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2008, 2004, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.