Dweep Tulika

Sri Vijaya Puram | July 6, 2026 Imagine governing a place where every sack of cement, every litre of fuel, every ambulance, and even many government officials must first cross more than 1,200 kilometres of sea before reaching their destination. Welcome to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , India's most isolated and perhaps most uniquely administered Union Territory. For many visitors, the islands feel almost like another country. Flights from mainland India take several hours, ships require days, and daily life is shaped less by highways and railways than by tides, weather conditions and ferry schedules. Yet these islands remain an inseparable part of India, making their administration unlike anywhere else in the country. Unlike Indian states, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands do not have a Legislative Assembly or an elected Chief Minister. Instead, the Union Territory is administered by the Lieutenant Governor on behalf of the Central Government. As a result, many important decision...

By Dweep Tulika Defence Desk The recent crash of an Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft near Jorhat in Assam has once again brought the spotlight onto one of the Air Force's oldest and most trusted workhorses. The accident claimed the lives of five Air Warriors while one crew member survived, prompting the IAF to order a Court of Inquiry into the incident. While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, the tragedy has reignited a broader national debate: How long should military aircraft remain in service, and is India investing enough in replacing ageing platforms? The Backbone of Tactical Airlift The Antonov AN-32 was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1984. Designed for operations in hot and high-altitude environments , the Soviet-origin aircraft became the backbone of India's tactical airlift capability. For more than four decades, the aircraft has transported troops, ammunition, relief supplies, and equipment across some of the most chall...