south India
Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory by area, a uni-district Arabian Sea archipelago of coral atolls, reefs, lagoons and submerged banks with Kavaratti as capital and close historical, administrative and cultural links with Kerala.
Capital
Kavaratti
Population
64,000
Census of India 2011
Area
32 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
91.8%
Census of India 2011
Districts
1
State Profile
Lakshadweep overview
Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory by area and a uni-district archipelago in the Arabian Sea, located about 220 to 440 km from Kochi on the Kerala coast. Its capital is Kavaratti, and its public life is shaped by coral atolls, lagoons, tuna fisheries, coconut, seafaring, Kerala links and ecological fragility.
Capital
Kavaratti
Region
south
Population
64,000
Census of India 2011
Area
32 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Kavaratti
- Largest city
- Kavaratti
- Region
- south
- Population
- 64,000Census of India 2011
- Area
- 32 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Malayalam, English, Jeseri/Jasari, Mahl
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Tuna fisheries, Pole-and-line fishing, Coconut cultivation, Copra
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- Lakshadweep is India clearest UPSC case study for coral atolls, lagoons, reef ecology, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, freshwater lenses and climate vulnerability.
- It links geography with governance: a small land area controls a much wider maritime space, making it important for blue economy, fisheries, shipping, tourism and India Arabian Sea domain.
- It is useful for GS2 because it is a Union Territory governed by an Administrator, has no legislature, is a single district, and falls under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court.
- Its society shows how Malayalam, Jeseri/Jasari and Mahl language traditions, Kerala links, Minicoy-Maldives connections and Scheduled Tribe protections operate in a small-island setting.
- Its economy raises important questions of carrying capacity, regulated tourism, sustainable tuna fisheries, waste movement, desalination, renewable energy and import dependence.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital: Kavaratti.
- India’s smallest Union Territory by area, with a land area of about 32 sq km.
- Uni-district Union Territory in the Arabian Sea, about 220 to 440 km from Kochi on the Kerala coast.
- Officially described by the Lakshadweep Administration as an archipelago of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks.
- Ten inhabited islands: Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy.
- Other well-known islands and islets include Bangaram, Thinnakara, Suheli, Cheriyam, Pitti/Bird Island and Viringili.
- Historic island groups include the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi islands.
- The lagoon and maritime area are very large compared with the tiny land area.
- The Kerala High Court has jurisdiction over Lakshadweep.
- Malayalam is widely used in most islands; Jeseri/Jasari is an important local speech form in many islands; Mahl is spoken in Minicoy and is related to the Dhivehi/Maldivian language tradition.
- Indigenous inhabitants of Lakshadweep are classified as Scheduled Tribes under the relevant constitutional and legal framework.
- Main traditional occupations include fishing, coconut cultivation and coir-related activities; tourism is an emerging sector.