Know your state Lakshadweep GK Notes – Culture, Geography, Govt. Policies, History, Education and Economy

Hello dear readers! Hope you all are doing well. Presently we are going to talk about one of the seven union territories: Lakshadweep. In this blog, we will study about the culture, geography, politics, history and economy of the Union territory.

How many islands of Lakshadweep Islands are inhabitants? What is the official language of the Lakshadweep Islands? What are the economic aspects of Lakshadweep Islands?

Let’s get started, digging deeper about this amazing union territory.

Lakshadweep is India’s smallest union territory with a group of 36 islands. The union territory is known for its exotic and sun-kissed beaches and lush green landscape.

Before discussing the aspects of Lakshadweep, let’s take a glance over its Symbols:

Let’s talk about the foremost aspect i.e. Culture.

CULTURE Lakshadweep GK Notes:

The culture of the Lakshadweep group is quite rich. There are many types of practices and traditions. The earlier inhabitants of Lakshadweep were Hindus who had migrated from the Malabar Coast of Kerala and converted to Islam in the 7^th century.

• Due to Lakshadweep being close to Kerala, its tradition has a strong influence of Kerala’s tradition.
• Festivals like Muharram, Bakri Eid, Miladunnabi, and Eid ul Fitr, Moulood Festival, Katuvili, and Ratheed etc. are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Lakshadweep.
• Most of the people of Lakshadweep speak only in the Malayalam language. Jeseri is also spoken on this island.
• Lakshadweep is very famous for its seafood and Kerala cuisine has its influence on their food habits.
• The main dishes are rayereha, sannath, parotta, Idli, dosa in Lakshadweep. Coconut bondas and Moahappam are famous deserts widely eaten.
• Both Music and Dance in Lakshadweep are highly influenced by Islam culture.  Kolkali and Parichakali are two major folk dances of the area.
• The most widely made crafts in Lakshadweep islands are of coir, corals, shells, and oysters that are used to make decorative items.

Let’s go further and study about geography of the union territory.

GEOGRAPHY Lakshadweep GK Notes:

Lakshadweep is a chain of islands of twelve atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks and ten inhabitants Islands with a total of about 36 islands.

Total Area: 32.62 km²

Total Population: 70,365

Latitudinal extension: 6° 45′ N to 14° N

Longitudinal Extent: 92° E to 94° E

• The name Lakshadweep means “Hundred Thousand Islands” in the Malayalam language and also in Sanskrit.
• The principal islands in the union territory are Minicoy and Amindivi group of islands.

• Lakshadweep islands has over 600 species of marine fishes, 78 species of corals, 82 species of seaweed, 52 species of crabs, 2 species of lobsters, 48 species of gastropods, 12 species of bivalves, 101 species of birds.
• The region does not have a rich flora. There is an absence of forest in the region. Nearly 400 species of flowering plants have been documented.
• There are no streams or major surface water bodies on the island. Brackish water ponds exist at Bangaram and Minicoy islands.
• Pitti Bird Wildlife Sanctuary is the only Wildlife Sanctuary in Lakshadweep islands.

Climate Lakshadweep GK Notes:

Lakshadweep enjoys a pleasant tropical climate with summer temperatures ranging from 22° C to 33° C and winter temperatures from 20° C to 32° C. The islands of Lakshadweep receive rainfall in abundance about 1500- 2000mm during monsoon, which begins from June and lasts till September.

Soil type:

Most of the islands of Lakshadweep have a soil layer overlying coral limestone. The soils are mainly derived from coral limestone and include coral sands and lagoonal sands and mud.

Let’s talk about Political aspects of Lakshadweep islands.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Lakshadweep GK Notes:

The government of Lakshadweep is determined by the national constitution of 1950. The territory is led by an administrator appointed by the president of India. The present administrator is Dineshwar Sharma IPS. Lakshadweep is a small union territory that consists of a single district with 10 subdivisions. The territory falls under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court at Kochi along with a system of lower courts. The territory elects one member to the Lok Sabha.

Now it’s time to look over the bygone era of the island.

HISTORY Lakshadweep GK Notes:

Lakshadweep was first mentioned by a Greek sailor in the 1^st century CE as a source of tortoise shell.

• People started living on Lakshadweep islands for the first time when Cheraman Perumal who was the last king of the Chera dynasty ruled in Kerala.
• Buddhist people lived in Lakshadweep islands in 5^th and 6^th centuries.
• Islam was brought to Lakshadweep by Ubaidullah in 661 CE.
• In the 11^th century, the area was ruled by the Chola dynasty and later by Kananor.
• The island was ruled by Ali Raja of Kannur as he was granted this territory as a gift by Kolathiris in 17th century.
• In 1787, the group of Aminidivi island consisting of Androth, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlath, and Bitra came under the rule of Tipu Sultan.
• After the Third Anglo-Mysore War, the region came under British Rule.
• On 1 November 1956, when all the states of India were being rebuilt, Lakshadweep was separated from Kerala formerly known as Madras and declared as a Union Territory.
• Before naming the island, people used to call it Lakkadiv, Minicoy, and Aminidivi islands while on 1 November 1973, it was named Lakshadweep.

Let’s discuss the economic aspects of the union territory.

ECONOMY Lakshadweep GK Notes:

The Economy of Lakshadweep depends mainly on the agricultural, fishing, industrial, and tourism sectors. The Economy of the union territory of Lakshadweep depends for its revenue on the agricultural sector. Coconut fibre extraction and production of fibre products is Lakshadweep’s main industry. There are five coir fibre factories, five production demonstration centres and seven fibre curling units run by the government of India.

Education Lakshadweep GK Notes:

Education in Lakshadweep has improved immensely with primary and secondary schools available throughout the islands. Lakshadweep has one of the highest literacy rates of about 92.28%. A college affiliated with the University of Calicut in Kerala offers bachelor’s degrees in several fields.

Sports Lakshadweep GK Notes:

Scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, yachting and night-voyages into the sea are the most popular Water Sports in Lakshadweep.

Here are some interesting facts about Lakshadweep islands:

• Lakshadweep can be entered only from Aggeti Island. Aggeti Island is about 6 km long. There is a large amount of fish seen on this island.
• Kavaratti is the most developed island of Lakshadweep. Kavaratti is also the capital of Lakshadweep and most of the visitors from outside come and stay on this island.
• Liquor is available at the Bangaram Island of Lakshadweep. Moreover, it is prohibited in all other islands.
• Unlike other parts of India, the rituals are opposite in Lakshadweep. Instead of wife, the husband goes to his spouse’s place. The husband takes the surname of the wife continuing to be the bread earner of the home. The women are empowered in this manner. Conversely, inter-caste marriages are not permissible.

Therefore, this was all the chief necessitate information about Lakshadweep islands that will help in your preparation for competitive exams like SSC CGL, CDS, Civil Services and NDA etc.

In the next blog, we would be discussing some interesting facts and trivia about the Union Territory of Puducherry. Click here for Know your State – ‘Puducherry’.

If you wish to read about the other Island States of India, you can click on the links given below:

Know your State ‘Andaman and Nicobar Islands’
Know your State ‘Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu’

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