Backgrounder: Great Nicobar Project
UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
The Great Nicobar Project will build a 14.2 million TEU transhipment port at Galathea Bay, a greenfield international airport, a 450 MVA gas-solar power plant and a township on 166.10 sq km of the island, in three phases from 2025, the last in 2042–47. It diverts 1.82% of A&N forest cover and proposes no displacement of the Shompen or Nicobarese.
- Port
- International Container Transhipment Terminal, Galathea Bay, 14.2 million TEU; natural depth over 20 m
- Location edge
- About 40 nautical miles from the East–West shipping route
- Other parts
- Greenfield airport (4000 peak hour passengers); 450 MVA gas-solar plant; township of 16,610 ha
- Area
- 166.10 sq km (130.75 forest + 35.35 revenue land)
- Phases
- I: 2025–35; II: 2036–41; III: 2042–47
- Clearance
- EIA Notification 2006 and ICRZ Notification 2019; 42 conditions
- Tribes
- Shompen (about 237), Nicobarese (about 1,094); no relocation proposed
The Great Nicobar Project: what happened?
Indian cargo is often sent through Colombo and Singapore because Indian ports lack deep berths for the biggest ships. Great Nicobar sits next to one of the world’s busiest sea lanes. The project wants to capture that trade and add strategic presence, but the island is rich forest, quake-prone, and home to a very small hunter-gatherer tribe. That is why it is debated.
- Port aims to cut dependence on foreign transhipment hubs such as Colombo, Singapore and Klang.
- Airport to start with at least 1 million passengers a year and grow to about 10 million (Port Blair handles about 1.8 million now).
- Power plant replaces dependence on diesel sets, the main power source in A&N today.
- Studies by ZSI, SACON, WII and IISc; three independent monitoring committees (pollution, biodiversity, Shompen and Nicobarese welfare).
- An Overarching Committee under the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, coordinates EC and CRZ conditions.
- A risk study covers tsunamis, earthquakes, cyclones and industrial hazards.
How much forest is affected?
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Share of A&N forest cover diverted | 1.82% |
| Trees in the area | 18.65 lakh |
| Maximum trees to be felled | 7.11 lakh, within 49.86 sq km |
| Kept as green zones (no felling) | 65.99 sq km |
| Compensatory afforestation | 97.30 sq km in Haryana, for Phase I diversion of 48.65 sq km |
Why is afforestation in Haryana and not on the island?
- The islands already have over 75% forest cover, so there is no local land for compensatory planting.
What happens to the tribal reserve?
| Step | Area |
|---|---|
| Tribal Reserve now | 751.070 sq km |
| Project area overlapping it | 84.10 sq km |
| Already revenue land since 1972 | 11.032 sq km |
| De-notified for project | 73.07 sq km |
| Re-notified as tribal reserve | 76.98 sq km |
| Net addition | 3.912 sq km |
Which constitutional provision is cited?
- Article 338A(9): the Union and every State Government shall consult the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.
- The project also cites the Shompen Policy of 2015 and the Jarawa Policy of 2004 for PVTG welfare.
How is the project phased?
| Phase | Years | Area (sq km) |
|---|---|---|
| I | 2025–35 | 72.12 |
| II | 2036–41 | 45.27 |
| III | 2042–47 | 48.71 |
| Total | 166.10 |
Why does the Great Nicobar Project matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Strategic | A national-security and maritime presence near the East–West route in the Indo-Pacific. |
| Economic | Transhipment revenue that now goes to foreign ports. |
| Connectivity | Airport and power open the island to tourism and services. |
| Environment | Tests whether big projects can run in a fragile, quake-prone island. |
What are the challenges in the Great Nicobar Project?
- Felling of up to 7.11 lakh trees in a rich forest island.
- Compensatory forests are far away in Haryana, a very different ecosystem.
- The Shompen are a very small PVTG (about 237 people); safeguards must hold over decades of construction.
- The island lies in a seismic and cyclone-prone zone.
- A long timeline (Phase III runs 2042–47) means monitoring committees must stay effective throughout.
What should be done next on the Great Nicobar Project?
- Phase I works (2025–35) under the 42 EC conditions.
- Monitoring committees to report on pollution, biodiversity and tribal welfare.
What can Prelims ask on the Great Nicobar Project?
- Galathea Bay: site of the transhipment port; Great Nicobar is about 40 nautical miles from the East–West shipping route.
- Shompen: PVTG hunter-gatherers; Nicobarese: coastal, fishing.
- Shompen Policy 2015; Jarawa Policy 2004.
- Article 338A(9): consult NCST on major policy matters affecting STs.
- EIA Notification 2006; ICRZ Notification 2019.
How to write about the Great Nicobar Project in Mains
Practice question (15 marks, 250 words): The Great Nicobar Project seeks to balance strategic and economic goals with ecological and tribal safeguards. Critically examine.
- Intro: components and location.
- Strategic and economic case: transhipment, Indo-Pacific presence.
- Safeguards: EIA, 42 conditions, committees, tribal reserve re-notification.
- Concerns: trees, distant afforestation, PVTG, seismic risk.
- Way forward: strict monitoring, consultation under Art 338A(9).
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-05-01): the Great Nicobar Project aims to make the island a strategic maritime and economic hub, about 40 nautical miles from the East–West shipping route; it includes a 14.2 million TEU transshipment port among other components.
- The strategic gain has to be weighed against ecology and tribal rights.
Quotable data pointThe Great Nicobar Project aims to make the island a strategic maritime and economic hub, about 40 nautical miles from the East–West shipping route.
PIB: PIB Backgrounder: Great Nicobar Project, 1 May 2026
Exam angle
Mains: development vs environment.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
The International Container Transhipment Port under the Great Nicobar Project is being developed at
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB backgrounder, 1 May 2026: ICTP at Galathea Bay.
With reference to the Great Nicobar Project, consider the following statements:
1. Compensatory afforestation for Phase I is planned in Haryana.
2. The project involves relocation of the Shompen to Little Andaman.
3. The project received clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer (c) & explanation
PIB backgrounder, 1 May 2026: afforestation in Haryana; EC under EIA Notification 2006; no relocation of tribes is proposed.
Article 338A(9) of the Constitution requires the Union and States to consult which body on major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes?
Answer (c) & explanation
Constitution, Art 338A(9).
Questions students ask about this
What is the Great Nicobar Project?
A plan for a transhipment port at Galathea Bay, an international airport, a gas-solar power plant and a township on Great Nicobar Island, in three phases, the last running 2042–47.
Why is Great Nicobar chosen for a transhipment port?
It is about 40 nautical miles from the East–West shipping route and has natural water depth of over 20 metres.
How much forest does the project divert?
1.82% of the forest cover of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Up to 7.11 lakh trees may be felled.
Will the Shompen be displaced?
The government says no relocation of the Shompen or Nicobarese is proposed, and the tribal reserve gets a net addition of 3.912 sq km.
Where will compensatory afforestation be done?
In Haryana, on 97.30 sq km, because the islands already have over 75% forest cover.
Keep studying
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Official source: PIB: PIB Backgrounder: Great Nicobar Project, 1 May 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending