‘Saddle Peak’, the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar islands, is located in

1. Introduction to the Indian Archipelago (basic)

India's geography is not limited to the vast mainland; it extends into the sea through two major island groups, or archipelagos, which are distinct in their geological origins and characteristics. To the east, scattered across the Bay of Bengal, lies the Andaman and Nicobar chain, consisting of approximately 572 islands and islets INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Chapter 2, p.15. To the west, in the Arabian Sea, lies the Lakshadweep group. While both are integral to India's maritime identity, they are fundamentally different: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are essentially the elevated portions of submarine mountains, whereas the Lakshadweep islands are coral formations Geography of India, Physiography, p.66.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are divided into two broad categories: the Andaman group in the north and the Nicobar group in the south, separated by a famous water body known as the Ten Degree Channel INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Chapter 2, p.15. These islands are largely tectonic and volcanic in origin. For instance, the highest point in this territory is Saddle Peak (approx. 738m), located on North Andaman. In contrast, the Lakshadweep Islands, situated close to the Malabar coast of Kerala, are much smaller in land area (covering only about 32 sq km) and are composed of small coral islands, previously known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.14.

Feature	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Lakshadweep Islands
Location	Bay of Bengal	Arabian Sea
Origin	Submarine mountains / Tectonic	Coral deposits (Atolls)
Major Divider	Ten Degree Channel	Nine/Eight Degree Channels

From a strategic and environmental perspective, the Bay of Bengal is more prone to tropical cyclones due to its smaller surface area and relatively warmer waters compared to the Arabian Sea, where the Somalian water current helps mitigate surface temperatures Geography of India, Climate of India, p.28. This makes the eastern archipelago a region of intense meteorological activity and rich biodiversity.

Sources: INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Structure and Physiography, p.15; Geography of India, Physiography, p.66; CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.14; Geography of India, Climate of India, p.28

2. Structural Breakdown: The Andaman and Nicobar Chain (basic)

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not merely isolated landmasses; they are the emergent peaks of a submerged mountain range. Geologically, these islands are considered an extension of the Arakan Yoma mountain chain of Myanmar, which belongs to the Tertiary period of mountain building Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.68. The chain is primarily composed of sandstone, limestone, and shale. This origin explains their rugged, hilly topography and the fact that they are situated in a high-intensity earthquake zone.

Structurally, the archipelago is divided into two distinct groups: the Andamans in the north and the Nicobars in the south. These two groups are separated by a deep-sea passage known as the Ten Degree (10°) Channel, which is approximately 150 km wide INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI, Structure and Physiography, p.16. Within the Andaman group, the islands are further categorized into North, Middle, South, and Little Andaman. The highest point of the entire territory, Saddle Peak (approx. 738m), is located on North Andaman island.

Feature	Andaman Group	Nicobar Group
Number of Islands	Higher density (approx. 26 inhabited)	Lower density (approx. 10 inhabited)
Highest Point	Saddle Peak (North Andaman)	Mount Thullier (Great Nicobar)
Separation	Divided by the 10° Channel

To the east of the main Andaman chain lie India's only volcanic islands: Barren Island and Narcondam. Barren Island is particularly significant as it houses the only active volcano in India Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.68. Because of their tropical location and heavy monsoon rainfall (May to December), the islands are cloaked in dense tropical rainforests with a rich mix of Indian, Myanmarese, and Malaysian flora Majid Husain, Geography of India, Regional Development and Planning, p.90.

Sources: Geography of India (Majid Husain), Physiography, p.68; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT (NCERT Class XI), Structure and Physiography, p.16; Geography of India (Majid Husain), Regional Development and Planning, p.90

3. Tectonic Origin: Submerged Mountain Chains (intermediate)

Concept: Tectonic Origin: Submerged Mountain Chains

4. Volcanism and Coral Formations in Indian Islands (intermediate)

While the Indian mainland is largely stable and devoid of active volcanic activity, the islands of the Andaman and Nicobar chain tell a much more dynamic story. To understand this, we must first look at their origin: these islands are the elevated portions of a submerged mountain range that is a continuation of the Arakan Yoma (Myanmar). This tectonic setting makes them a hotspot for both seismic and volcanic activity, unlike the Lakshadweep Islands, which are entirely of coral origin (Atolls) and sit atop the Laccadive-Chagos Ridge.

In the Andaman Sea, we find India's only two volcanic islands. Barren Island is the crown jewel of Indian volcanology—it is the only active volcano in South Asia. After remaining quiet for nearly two centuries, it became active in the 1990s and most recently spewed lava and ash in 2017 Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Volcanism, p.156. In contrast, Narcondam Island, located to its northeast, is considered extinct (or potentially dormant), meaning it has not erupted in recorded history and its crater has largely eroded away Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Geography Class VII, Geographical Diversity of India, p.22.

Feature	Barren Island	Narcondam Island
Status	Active (Latest eruption 2017)	Extinct / Dormant
Location	East of Middle Andaman	Northeast of Barren Island
Nature	Periodic smoke and lava eruptions	Eroded crater, no recent activity

Beyond volcanism, the topography of these islands is marked by significant elevations. The highest point in the entire Andaman and Nicobar territory is Saddle Peak, standing at approximately 738 metres. It is situated on North Andaman INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), The Islands, p.15. Regarding coral formations, there is a distinct contrast: the Lakshadweep islands are Atolls (circular reefs surrounding a lagoon), whereas the Andaman and Nicobar islands primarily host fringing reefs that grow along the edges of the volcanic and tectonic landmasses.

Sources: Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Volcanism, p.156; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII NCERT, Geographical Diversity of India, p.22; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Structure and Physiography, p.15

5. Anthropology: PVTGs of the Island Territory (intermediate)

To understand the human geography of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, we must look at the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). These are tribal communities characterized by a pre-agricultural level of technology, a stagnant or declining population, extremely low literacy, and a subsistence-level economy. In the context of the islands, these groups represent some of the most isolated and anthropologically significant populations in the world, having lived in near-total isolation for thousands of years Geography of India, Physiography, p.68. Their origins are traced back to early human migrations, with the Negrito groups believed to have arrived from the Malaysian Peninsula, sharing close cultural and physical affinities with the Semangs and Sakais tribes Geography of India, Cultural Setting, p.10.
The tribal population of the islands is broadly divided into two distinct racial groups based on their geographical location and physical traits:

Racial Group	Region	Tribes	Physical Characteristics
Negrito	Andaman Islands	Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese	Short stature (approx. 150 cm), frizzy hair, black skin, and bulbous forehead.
Mongoloid	Nicobar Islands	Shompen, Nicobarese	Fairer skin, epicanthic fold (eye shape), and straight hair.

Among these, all except the Nicobarese are classified as PVTGs. While the overall tribal population in the Andamans is fast dwindling due to contact with outsiders and diseases, the Jarawas (also known as Angs) have recently shown a slight recovery, with their population increasing from 266 in 2001 to 429 in 2016 Geography of India, Cultural Setting, p.26. In contrast, the Sentinelese remain the most isolated, fiercely resisting any contact with the modern world on North Sentinel Island.

Sources: Geography of India, Physiography, p.68; Geography of India, Cultural Setting, p.10; Geography of India, Cultural Setting, p.26

6. Strategic Waterways: Channels and Passages (exam-level)

In the study of Indian physical geography, channels and passages are more than just lines on a map; they are strategic maritime arteries that define the limits of our sovereign territory. These waterways are typically wide straits or stretches of water between two landmasses. In the Indian context, several are named after the degree of latitude that passes through them, serving as natural dividers between island groups.

In the Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep archipelago is defined by two primary channels. The Eight Degree Channel acts as the international maritime boundary between the Indian island of Minicoy and the Republic of Maldives Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.68. Moving slightly north, the Nine Degree Channel separates the island of Minicoy from the main cluster of the Lakshadweep islands, including the capital, Kavaratti. These islands are predominantly coral in origin and lack the high relief or streams found on the mainland Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.68.

On the eastern side, in the Bay of Bengal, the Ten Degree Channel is the most significant divider, separating the Andaman group in the north from the Nicobar group in the south Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.66. These islands are more rugged and are actually the submerged extensions of elevated mountain ranges. For instance, Saddle Peak (738 m) stands as the highest point in the entire territory and is located on North Andaman INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI, Structure and Physiography, p.15. Other critical passages include the Duncan Passage, which separates South Andaman from Little Andaman, and the Coco Channel, which lies between the North Andaman islands and Myanmar's Coco Islands.

Waterway	Geographical Separation	Location
8° Channel	Minicoy (India) & Maldives	Arabian Sea
9° Channel	Minicoy & main Lakshadweep	Arabian Sea
10° Channel	Andaman Islands & Nicobar Islands	Bay of Bengal
Duncan Passage	South Andaman & Little Andaman	Bay of Bengal

Sources: Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.66, 68; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI, Structure and Physiography, p.15

7. Prominent Peaks and National Parks of the Islands (exam-level)

When we look at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is helpful to visualize them not just as islands, but as the visible peaks of a massive submerged mountain range. Geologically, these islands are thought to be the southward extension of the Arakan Yoma mountains of Myanmar. Because of this tectonic origin, the islands are quite hilly and boast several prominent peaks that serve as the backbone of their unique ecosystems.

The highest point in the entire Union Territory is Saddle Peak, which rises to 738 metres and is located in North Andaman India Physical Environment, Structure and Physiography, p.15. As you move southward through the archipelago, the elevation of the major peaks generally decreases until you reach the Nicobar group. The peaks are often protected within National Parks, such as the Saddle Peak National Park, which preserves the rare equatorial vegetation and diverse flora found at these heights.

While the Andaman group is dominated by Saddle Peak, the Nicobar Islands have their own distinct topography. The highest elevation in the Nicobar cluster is Mount Thuiller, located on Great Nicobar Island. It is also important to note the volcanic character of the region; Barren Island remains the only active volcano in India, located within the Nicobar sea space India Physical Environment, Structure and Physiography, p.15.

To help you memorize the distribution of these peaks for the exam, refer to this comparison table:

Peak Name	Location	Height (Approx)
Saddle Peak	North Andaman	738 m
Mount Diavolo	Middle Andaman	515 m
Mount Koyob	South Andaman	460 m
Mount Thuiller	Great Nicobar	642 m

Sources: India Physical Environment, Structure and Physiography, p.15

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

This question tests your ability to synthesize the physical hierarchy and regional landmarks of the Indian archipelago. Having just mastered the physiographic divisions of India, you know that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are not a singular mass but a complex chain divided by the 10 Degree Channel. To identify the Saddle Peak, you must apply the specific 'anchor point' strategy: connecting the highest topographical features to their respective island subgroups. According to the INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT), the North Andaman island is the geographical host of this summit, which stands as the highest point in the entire Bay of Bengal island chain at approximately 732 metres.

When approaching this in the exam, your reasoning should follow a north-to-south mental map. First, distinguish between the Andaman and Nicobar groups. Second, recall that the highest elevations in this region are concentrated in the northernmost section of the Andaman cluster, specifically near Diglipur. This leads you directly to North Andaman as the correct answer. This peak is also the centerpiece of the Saddle Peak National Park, making it a critical ecological and geographical landmark that UPSC frequently uses to test precise regional knowledge.

The other options represent classic UPSC distractors designed to test the depth of your memorization. Great Nicobar is a common trap because it contains Mount Thullier, which is the highest peak of the Nicobar group specifically, but not the entire archipelago. Middle Andaman is often confused for the correct answer because it is the largest island by area, yet it lacks the highest elevation. Little Andaman is situated much further south, separated from the main group by the Duncan Passage, and possesses a much flatter profile. By distinguishing the 'highest' (North Andaman) from the 'largest' (Middle Andaman) and the 'southernmost' (Great Nicobar), you avoid the primary traps set by the examiner.