Background
Lakshadweep's five-year plan to raise tuna output to 50,000 tonnes a year rests on the fishery described on the Union Territory's own Department of Fisheries page.
The Department of Fisheries was set up in 1959, and tuna is the primary fishery resource of the islands.
Pole-and-line tuna fishing, which the department says exists only in Lakshadweep within India, is the main method.
Output rose from about 500 tonnes in the 1950s to 16,891 metric tonnes in 2024-25.
Anchored Fish Aggregating Devices in selected territorial waters attract fish, save fuel, cut scouting time and improve safety.
Approval has been granted to procure 10 deep-sea fishing vessels, and 32 fish collection vessels from other States may buy directly from local fishermen.
The department lists 8 ice plants of 60 MT capacity, 3 cold storages of 15 MT and 300 insulated ice boxes of 150 litres each.
Department of Fisheries set up:
1959
Production in 2024-25:
16,891 metric tonnes
Production in the 1950s:
about 500 tonnes
Ice plants:
8, of 60 MT capacity
Why it matters for exams: 'Pole-and-line fishing is practised in which Indian territory?' is a classic one-line question, and the 1959 founding year and the FAD idea are both askable.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
FAD Fish Aggregating Device — A floating structure anchored at sea that gathers fish around it, so boats need not search for shoals.
Background
Lakshadweep's push for a ₹519 crore fisheries investment and a 50,000 tonne tuna target runs through the central schemes listed by its own Department of Fisheries.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana the department lists 81 projects, of which 24 are completed and 57 ongoing, with another 18 Fish Aggregating Devices planned.
Chetlat and Minicoy have been selected under the Climate Resilient Coastal Fishing Village Scheme.
A seaweed cluster project has in-principle approval for a hatchery and a seed bank, and 10 self-help groups across the nine inhabited islands are running demonstrations.
The Minicoy tuna canning factory has been outsourced to private entrepreneurs.
1,607 Kisan Credit Cards worth 16.5 crore have been issued to support micro-enterprises such as fish pickle and fish powder.
Seven new fisheries cooperatives were added to three existing ones, so every inhabited island now has a registered cooperative.
PMMSY projects:
81 (24 completed, 57 ongoing)
Climate Resilient Coastal Fishing Villages:
Chetlat and Minicoy
Kisan Credit Cards issued:
1,607 worth 16.5 crore
Seaweed self-help groups:
10 across nine inhabited islands
Why it matters for exams: The Climate Resilient Coastal Fishing Village Scheme and the use of Kisan Credit Cards for fisheries micro-enterprise are both newer scheme details that examiners like.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
KCC Kisan Credit Card — A short-term credit instrument for farmers and, since its extension, for fishers and animal rearers.
Background
Lakshadweep's tuna and seaweed plans are built on a water area out of all proportion to its land, as the Union Territory's own Department of Fisheries page sets out.
The lagoon area is 4,200 sq km, the territorial waters 20,000 sq km and the Exclusive Economic Zone 4,00,000 sq km.
The coastline is about 132 km.
Tuna is the primary fishery resource of the islands, and more than 300 ornamental reef fish species live in the lagoons.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services issues Potential Fishing Zone advisories by SMS, mobile apps and display boards.
Wave rider buoys support ocean state forecasts, and a Vessel Communication and Support System tracks vessels by satellite.
Lagoon area:
4,200 sq km
Territorial waters:
20,000 sq km
Exclusive Economic Zone:
4,00,000 sq km
Coastline:
about 132 km
Why it matters for exams: Examiners pair the small land area of Lakshadweep with its very large EEZ, and ask which agency issues Potential Fishing Zone advisories.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
INCOIS Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services — A Hyderabad-based centre under the Ministry of Earth Sciences that issues ocean state and Potential Fishing Zone advisories.
Lagoon Coral lagoon — The shallow sheltered water enclosed by a coral reef around an atoll.
Background
Lakshadweep's schooling is the base on which its literacy standing rests, and the Union Territory's Education Department page sets out the numbers.
There are 32 government schools across the 10 inhabited islands: 14 Junior Basic, 9 Senior Basic and 9 Senior Secondary.
11,761 students were enrolled from pre-school to Class 12 in 2024-25, and 8,953 students from pre-school to Class 8 receive mid-day meals under PM POSHAN.
The four colleges are the Arts and Science College at Androth, the Arts and Science College at Kadmat, the College of Education at Kadmat and the Polytechnic College at Minicoy.
The District Institute for Education and Training at Kavaratti runs teacher training including the D.El.Ed. programme, and there are Model Schools at Androth and Minicoy.
An Atal Tinkering Lab functions at PMSHRI GSSS Kavaratti, and 380 teachers have been trained.
Selected schools are being developed under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and PM SHRI; all classrooms are smart classrooms and all schools have internet connectivity.
Government schools:
32 across 10 inhabited islands
Students in 2024-25:
11,761
PM POSHAN beneficiaries:
8,953
Colleges:
4
Polytechnic College:
Minicoy
Why it matters for exams: The number of inhabited islands, where the only polytechnic sits, and where the DIET is, are all small facts an examiner can test precisely.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
PM POSHAN Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman — The central mid-day meal scheme for school children, renamed PM POSHAN.
PM SHRI PM Schools for Rising India — A central scheme that develops selected schools as model schools under the National Education Policy.
Background
The Kerala High Court's August 2026 judgment on Lakshadweep's pandaram land shows why the islands' court structure matters, and the Union Territory's own judicial setup page sets it out.
The Sub Court at Kavaratti was upgraded to a District and Sessions Court with effect from April 1997.
The Munsiff Court at Amini covers Amini, Agatti, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra islands.
The Munsiff Court at Andrott covers Kavaratti, Andrott, Minicoy and Kalpeni islands.
Both Munsiff Courts also function as Courts of Judicial Magistrate of First Class for their areas.
The Judicial Magistrate at Andrott holds the additional charge of Chief Judicial Magistrate.
Lakshadweep falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kerala.
Kavaratti Sub Court upgraded:
April 1997
Munsiff Courts:
Amini and Andrott
Islands under Amini Munsiff Court:
Amini, Agatti, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra
High Court:
High Court of Kerala
Why it matters for exams: Which High Court covers Lakshadweep, and the fact that the territory's district court sits at Kavaratti while the Chief Judicial Magistrate sits at Andrott, are both precise, testable facts.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Munsiff Court Court of the Munsiff — The lowest civil court in the Kerala pattern of judicial hierarchy, trying suits of limited value.
CJM Chief Judicial Magistrate — The senior judicial magistrate of a district, supervising the magistrates below.
Background
The Kerala High Court's August 2026 order directing the Lakshadweep Administration to issue occupancy certificates falls on this department, whose own page describes its work.
The Department of Revenue was formally established in 1964, after Lakshadweep became a Union Territory, though some revenue administration existed in the pre-independence era.
It is headed by the Additional District Magistrate based at Kavaratti.
Deputy Collectors and Block Development Officers are posted in the Revenue Sub-Divisions of each island.
Its functions are maintaining land records and land administration, issuing statutory certificates, processing land-related permissions, enforcing land laws and coordinating disaster management.
It also delivers public services such as Entry Permits, caste and nativity certificates, income certificates and trade licences, online and offline.
The office is at PIN 682 555 and can be reached on 04896-262384 and 04896-263440.
Department established:
1964
Headed by:
Additional District Magistrate, Kavaratti
Field officers:
Deputy Collectors and Block Development Officers in each island's Revenue Sub-Division
Why it matters for exams: That a visitor needs an Entry Permit issued by the Revenue Department, and that the department dates from 1964, are both exact facts a question can turn on.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Entry Permit Lakshadweep Entry Permit — The permission a non-islander needs to visit Lakshadweep, issued through its revenue administration.
ADM Additional District Magistrate — A revenue and magisterial officer ranking next below the District Magistrate or Collector.
Background
Lakshadweep's push for investment, e-governance and tourism rests on the link that replaced its satellite connection, and the Press Information Bureau release sets out its figures.
The Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fibre Connection, KLI-SOFC, was inaugurated at Kavaratti.
The project cost ₹1,072 crore plus taxes and the link runs 1,868 km.
Eleven islands are connected: Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Chetlet, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Androth, Kiltan, Bangaram and Bitra.
It was funded through the Universal Services Obligation Fund of the Department of Telecommunications and executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, with NEC Corporation India Pvt Ltd selected as contractor through global open tendering.
The scope covered marine route survey, submarine cable laying, civil construction of cable landing stations and installation, testing and commissioning of end terminals.
High-speed service is delivered through fibre to the home and 5G and 4G mobile networks, and bandwidth is available to all telecom service providers.
Project cost:
Rs 1,072 crore plus taxes
Link distance:
1,868 km
Islands connected:
11
Funding:
Universal Services Obligation Fund, Department of Telecommunications
Executing agency:
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
Why it matters for exams: The KLI-SOFC name, its 1,868 km length, the eleven islands and the Universal Services Obligation Fund are each standard one-mark material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
USOF Universal Services Obligation Fund — A fund of the Department of Telecommunications used to extend telecom service to areas that are not commercially attractive.
FTTH Fibre to the Home — Broadband delivered by taking the optical fibre right up to the subscriber's premises.
Background
Lakshadweep's bid to turn its lagoons into a high-end tourism product is set out in a Press Information Bureau release from a press conference at Kavaratti.
Three water villa projects at Minicoy, Kadmat and Suheli, with a combined outlay of ₹810 crore, are being developed with NITI Aayog's consultation.
Weekly cruise liner services connect Mumbai, Kochi, Agatti and Thinnakara.
For ports and jetties, eastern and western jetties at Kadmat and Kalpeni and new port facilities at Androth together carry ₹1,664.88 crore.
Beachfront development with roads and protection walls has been proposed for Agatti, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti and Minicoy at ₹2,128.86 crore and was still under examination.
In renewable energy, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Solar Energy Corporation of India, rooftop solar was installed in over 450 homes, and solar plants were commissioned at Agatti of 0.3 MW and Kavaratti of 1.4 MW.
Water villa projects:
Minicoy, Kadmat and Suheli
Combined outlay:
₹810 crore
Jetties and port facilities:
₹1,664.88 crore
Beachfront development proposed:
₹2,128.86 crore
Solar plants commissioned:
Agatti 0.3 MW, Kavaratti 1.4 MW
Why it matters for exams: Suheli and Thinnakara are the uninhabited islands an examiner uses to separate careful candidates from careless ones, and NITI Aayog's role in island tourism is a frequent link question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NITI Aayog National Institution for Transforming India — The Union government's policy think tank, which has driven island development plans for Lakshadweep and the Andamans.
SECI Solar Energy Corporation of India — A central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy that implements solar projects.
Background
Lakshadweep's strategic position in the Arabian Sea is what the Navy's own base at Minicoy is built on, as the Press Information Bureau release records.
INS Jatayu was commissioned at Minicoy Island on 6 March 2024 in the presence of Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, Lakshadweep Administrator Shri Praful K. Patel and Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.
The unit is tied to a new naval base at Minicoy and functions under the operational control of the Naval Officer in Charge, Lakshadweep, Southern Naval Command.
Commander Vrat Baghel is the first Commanding Officer of the unit, and a 50-person Guard of Honour was presented at the ceremony.
A Maritime Operations Centre at Minicoy was inaugurated after the commissioning.
The release frames the base as adding capacity building, operational reach and sustainment in the region and as part of the SAGAR vision, and expects it to improve connectivity with the mainland.
Base:
INS Jatayu, Minicoy Island
Commissioned by:
Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff
Operational control:
Naval Officer in Charge, Lakshadweep, Southern Naval Command
First Commanding Officer:
Commander Vrat Baghel
Why it matters for exams: The name of the Minicoy base, the command it reports to and the full form of SAGAR are the three things a defence question on Lakshadweep usually turns on.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
SAGAR Security and Growth for All in the Region — India's maritime policy vision for the Indian Ocean neighbourhood.
Southern Naval Command Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy — The Indian Navy's training command, headquartered at Kochi, which also controls the Lakshadweep naval presence.
Background
The whole of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep is treated as a single district. It was earlier divided into four tehsils and now has ten sub-divisions. Sub-Divisional Officers coordinate development work in eight islands, while the sub-divisions of Minicoy and Agatti are under a Deputy Collector. The Administration Secretariat was shifted from Kozhikode to Kavaratti in March 1964. Revenue, land settlement and law and order come under the Collector cum Development Commissioner, who is also the District Magistrate, assisted by one Additional District Magistrate and ten Executive Magistrates. The Administrator commands Lakshadweep Police in his capacity as Inspector General of Lakshadweep Police, and the force has a sanctioned strength of 349 personnel for nine police stations, two police out posts and one police aid post. A company of the India Reserve Battalion was raised by the Union Government for Lakshadweep together with Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and 355 of its personnel are stationed across the islands.
Districts:
1
Sub-divisions:
10
Police stations:
9
Sanctioned police strength:
349 personnel
Why it matters for exams: Union Territory administration without a legislature is a standard polity question, and the single-district structure, the Kavaratti secretariat and the Administrator's police powers are asked directly in Kerala PSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Collector cum Development Commissioner — The senior officer who handles revenue, land settlement and law and order in Lakshadweep and also serves as District Magistrate.
IRB India Reserve Battalion — An armed police battalion raised by the Union Government and placed at a state or union territory's disposal for law and order duty.