Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects worth ₹373 crore of the Andaman and Nicobar UT Government in Sri Vijaya Puram

1. At a Glance

• On 18 May 2026 (PIB date PRID 2211146), Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated/laid foundation stones for A&N UT development projects worth ₹373 crore at Sri Vijaya Puram (renamed Port Blair). [1][2]
• The event bundles together themes UPSC tests repeatedly: decolonisation of place-names, island governance, Great Nicobar mega-project, Cellular Jail legacy, and Indo-Pacific strategy. [1][5]
• Includes a ₹229 cr Integrated Command & Control Centre, Phase-I District Hospital (₹33 cr), and a Forensic Science Laboratory. [1]

2. Why in the News

• Shah's visit (May 2026) coincided with the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting of MHA held at Sri Vijaya Puram — the first such offsite in the UT. [2]
• He framed A&N as a "pilgrimage site" for the freedom struggle and reiterated the Great Nicobar Project as a pillar of strategic security. [1]

3. Background & Evolution

• 1858–1945 – Cellular Jail ("Kala Pani") functioned as penal colony; Veer Savarkar imprisoned 1911–1921. [1]
• 30 Dec 1943 – Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted tricolour at Port Blair; renamed islands Shaheed & Swaraj. [1]
• 2018 – PM Modi formally renamed Ross Island → Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil → Shaheed Dweep, Havelock → Swaraj Dweep. [1]
• 13 Sept 2024 – MHA notification renamed Port Blair → Sri Vijaya Puram, honouring the Chola-era Sri Vijaya empire. [3][4]
• 2022 onwards – Great Nicobar Holistic Development Project sanctioned via NITI Aayog; EoI for International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay. [5][6]

4. Core Static Facts

• UT Administrator: Lt Governor (currently exercises powers under Article 239).
• Capital: Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair). [3]
• Nodal Ministry for UT: Ministry of Home Affairs (UT Division). [2]
• Total project value inaugurated: ₹373 crore; 9 projects inaugurated + 2 foundation stones. [1]
• Key project items: Integrated Command & Control Centre ₹229 cr; District Hospital Phase-I ₹33 cr; Forensic Science Laboratory. [1]
• Great Nicobar Project: includes ICTP of 14.2 MTEU ultimate capacity, Greenfield International Airport (4,000 PHP), 450 MVA gas-solar power plant, township; ~40 nautical miles from East-West international shipping route. [5][6]
• Phase 1 ICTP commissioning: 2028 (~4 MTEU); ultimate by 2058 (~16 MTEU). [6]
• Implementing agencies: A&N Administration; Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL); Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. [5][6]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Geopolitical / Strategic

• Islands lie astride Malacca Strait approaches; nearly 75% of India's transhipment cargo currently handled at Colombo, Singapore, Klang — Great Nicobar ICTP aims at import substitution. [6]
• Reinforces Andaman & Nicobar Command (only tri-service command) and India's SAGAR / Indo-Pacific outreach. [5]

Economic

• ₹373 cr capex injection; tourism push (international scuba diving destination). [1]
• Great Nicobar to be a global cargo hub; reduces shipping turnaround costs. [5][6]

Environmental

• Great Nicobar overlaps Galathea Bay (leatherback turtle nesting), Campbell Bay & Galathea National Parks, and tribal reserves (Shompen, Nicobarese); EAC clearance contested. [5]
• Project documents cite 'sustainable development' framework with offset afforestation. [5]

Administrative / Federal

• A&N is a UT without legislature; governed under Article 239 with President acting through LG.
• Renaming under Ministry of Home Affairs powers; PIB notes name change announced 13 Sept 2024. [3][4]

Historical / Cultural

• "Sri Vijaya Puram" invokes the Chola maritime empire's links with Sri Vijaya (Sumatra). [4]
• Cellular Jail – National Memorial; Savarkar memorial & eternal flame. [1]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 13 Sept 2024 – Port Blair renamed Sri Vijaya Puram. [3][4]
• 2024 – 7th Island Development Agency (IDA) meeting chaired by Shah. [2]
• May 2026 – Inauguration of ₹373 cr projects + MHA Consultative Committee meeting. [1][2]
• Ongoing EoI / phased works on Galathea Bay ICTP, Greenfield Airport, township. [5][6]

7. Prelims Hooks

• Port Blair renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in September 2024, honouring Chola-era Sri Vijaya empire. [3][4]
• Ross Island = Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil = Shaheed Dweep, Havelock = Swaraj Dweep (2018). [1]
• Total value of A&N projects inaugurated by Amit Shah: ₹373 crore. [1]
• Integrated Command & Control Centre cost: ₹229 crore. [1]
• Great Nicobar ICTP location: Galathea Bay. [5]
• ICTP ultimate capacity: 16 MTEU by 2058; Phase-1 commissioning 2028 (~4 MTEU). [6]
• ~75% of India's transhipment cargo currently handled abroad (Colombo/Singapore/Klang). [6]
• Great Nicobar is ~40 nautical miles from the international East-West shipping route. [6]
• Greenfield International Airport at Great Nicobar: 4,000 Peak Hour Passengers. [6]
• Greenfield power plant: 450 MVA gas-solar hybrid. [6]
• Only tri-service theatre command in India: Andaman & Nicobar Command (est. 2001).
• Constitutional basis of UT administration: Article 239.
• Cellular Jail today houses Veer Savarkar memorial & eternal flame. [1]
• Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) is implementing the ICTP. [5]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Modern Indian history – freedom struggle, Cellular Jail, Netaji.
• GS-II: Governance of Union Territories; Centre-UT relations; place-name policy.
• GS-III: Infrastructure (ports), internal security of border areas, environment vs development.
• Question stems: 1. "The Great Nicobar Project is as much a geo-economic statement as an infrastructure venture." Examine. 2. "Renaming colonial-era place names is a legitimate exercise in decolonising public memory, but raises federal-cultural concerns." Discuss with reference to Sri Vijaya Puram. 3. "India's Andaman & Nicobar Islands lie at the intersection of strategy, ecology and tribal rights." Critically evaluate.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Andaman & Nicobar Command – India's only tri-service theatre command.
• SAGAR doctrine & Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative – maritime context.
• Galathea Bay ESZ & Leatherback turtles – environment clearance debate.
• PVTGs – Shompen & Sentinelese – tribal rights, Article 342.
• Sagarmala Programme – port-led development linkage.
• Cellular Jail & Savarkar – freedom struggle GS-I.
• Chola maritime empire – Sri Vijaya, Rajendra I expeditions.
• Article 239 / UT administration – constitutional framework.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Renaming year: Port Blair → Sri Vijaya Puram is 2024, NOT 2023. [3]
• Shaheed vs Swaraj Dweep: Neil = Shaheed, Havelock = Swaraj (often swapped).
• ICTP location: Galathea Bay (Great Nicobar) — not Campbell Bay or Port Blair.
• A&N is a UT without legislature, unlike Puducherry/Delhi/J&K.
• Great Nicobar Project's nodal coordinator is NITI Aayog with Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (not MoEFCC, though it gives clearance).
• "Sri Vijaya" refers to the Southeast Asian maritime empire (Sumatra), not a local kingdom.