Andaman Quiz

Notes:
Recently, Lieutenant General Dinesh Singh Rana took charge as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is India’s first integrated theatre command, established in 2001. It is headquartered in Port Blair and integrates the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The command plays a crucial role in securing India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region. The post of Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) rotates among the three armed services.

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A wild banana species called Musa indandamanensis from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands recently set a world record with the longest banana infructescence measuring 4.2 metres. An infructescence is the full fruiting part of a plant. This wild species is endemic to the Nicobar group, especially found in Campbell Bay. The tree grows about 11 metres tall with a stem girth of around 110 centimetres. Earlier, the longest known banana infructescence was only 3 metres. The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is preserved in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, and botanical centres like A.J.C. Bose Indian Botanic Garden. It holds potential for future disease-resistant and high-yield banana varieties.

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The Department of Fisheries has designated the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a Tuna Cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). This region has a 6.0 lakh sq km Exclusive Economic Zone rich in tuna, offering benefits in fisheries due to its location, sustainable practices, and trade routes. Tuna, part of the Thunnus genus, is fast and migratory, found in tropical and temperate oceans, with species like Skipjack and Yellowfin contributing $41 billion in trade annually. Tuna is rich in Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Omega-3s, protein, and antioxidants. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020, aims to enhance fisheries growth.

Notes:
Union Home Minister announced that Port Blair will be renamed ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’ Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was named after naval officer Archibald Blair. It is located on the east coast of South Andaman Island and hosted the first Tiranga unfurling by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Historically, the Andaman Islands were used by Chola emperor Rajendra I for a naval base to attack Srivijaya (present-day Indonesia). The Cholas called the islands “Ma-Nakkavaram,” which may have led to the name Nicobar. The Chola invasion of Srivijaya marked a significant event in India-Southeast Asia relations.

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Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM recently became the 17th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN).
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the only Joint-services Command in India.

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Prime Minister Modi named 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees, to give due honour and recognition to real-life heroes.
The move was taken on Parakram Diwas, also known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti. The national event aims to mark the birth anniversary of prominent Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.