Andaman and Nicobar Command
Also called: ANC · Topic: State, Government and Governance: Organs, Levels and the Citizen · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is a military command based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Its headquarters is at Sri Vijaya Puram, the present name of Port Blair. It is a joint command, which means the Army, Navy and Air Force work under one commander instead of separately. The Coast Guard is also part of it, so official releases call it India's only Operational Quad Service Command ("quad" means four). Defence is a Union List subject, so the ANC works under the Union government. The ANC matters because it guards the Bay of Bengal and serves as India's base for working with navies in the region.
Example
In 2026 the ANC hosted the first BIMSTEC Maritime Security Exercise. It ended at Sri Vijaya Puram on 3 November 2026 and had a harbour phase followed by a sea phase. Before this, the ANC had hosted joint exercises such as Ex KAVACH and DANX-17 (Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Exercise).
Don't confuse with
- A Navy-only command: The ANC brings all three armed services and the Coast Guard together under one commander. It is not just a naval base.
- Combined (multinational) exercise: "Joint" means India's own services working together, as they do in the ANC. "Combined" means forces from several countries training together, as they did in the BIMSTEC exercise the ANC hosted.