Location

Western fringe of Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal

26 km southwest of Little Andaman Island, Bay of Bengal

Coordinates

Approx. 11.558°N, 92.241°E

Approx. 10.972°N, 92.225°E

Size

~60 sq. km (8 km x 7 km)

~1.6 sq. km

Topography

Dense tropical rainforest, fringed by coral reefs

Low-lying, flat, coral-sand island with little vegetation

Inhabitants

Sentinelese tribe (PVTG)

Uninhabited

Tribal Status

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), considered one of world’s last uncontacted peoples

None

Ancestry

Believed to be direct descendants of first human migrations out of Africa (~60,000 years ago)

N/A

Language

Unclassified & undocumented

N/A

Legal Access

Completely prohibited under tribal protection regulations; 5-nautical-mile buffer zone

Restricted due to proximity to North Sentinel, though not directly inhabited

Governance Jurisdiction

South Andaman District, A&N Islands UT

South Andaman District

Protection Measures

Navy & Coast Guard patrol buffer zone; monitored by Indian authorities

De facto protected due to ecological & geopolitical sensitivity

Recent Events

2018 death of missionary John Allen Chau; 2025 arrest of U.S. national Mykhailo Polyakov

Rarely visited; limited scientific access only with permits

Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956

Prohibits travel to tribal reserve areas; violators can be fined/imprisoned. Entry requires special permission.

Applies directly to protected tribes like Sentinelese, Jarawa, Onge & Great Andamanese

Amendment Regulation, 2012

Updated protection zones, expanded prohibited areas & increased legal penalties.

Strengthened buffer zones & legal deterrence against tourism or encroachment

Forest Rights Act, 2006

Grants land rights & traditional forest access to Scheduled Tribes & forest dwellers.

Recognizes traditional rights of tribes like Nicobarese but not fully applied to PVTGs

The Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Prevents discrimination & exploitation of SC/ST groups, includes penal provisions.

Provides legal backing for penalizing outsiders who exploit tribal groups

Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963

Imposes restricted or protected area permit requirements for foreigners in tribal or border-sensitive areas.

Foreign nationals need special permission to visit tribal zones in A&N Islands

Environmental Acts (e.g. CRZ Notification, 2011)

Prohibits ecological disruption, including illegal filming or commercial exploitation in coastal tribal zones.

Enforced to protect fragile coastal tribal habitats such as in North Sentinel Island

Sentinelese

PVTG

80–150 (estimated; 2011 census)

North Sentinel Island

Hunter-gatherer, isolated

Unclassified

Disease risk, external intrusion, illegal tourism

Jarawa

PVTG

~400

Western coast of Middle & South Andaman

Semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer

Jarawa language (unwritten)

Road intrusion, disease, poaching

Onge

PVTG

~100

Little Andaman Island

Semi-nomadic, some sedentarism

Onge language

Alcoholism, cultural erosion, healthcare issues

Great Andamanese

PVTG

~50

Strait Island (settled)

Previously nomadic; now settled

Several dialects extinct

Near-extinction, cultural loss

Shompens

PVTG

~220

Nicobar Islands (Great Nicobar)

Hunter-gatherer, shifting cultivation

Shompen (poorly documented)

Isolation, ecological threats, poor documentation

Nicobarese

Scheduled Tribe

~28,000

Nicobar Islands

Agriculturists, Christian influence

Nicobarese (Austroasiatic)

Tsunami impact (2004), cultural dilution

Section 3 Power to make orders

Central Govt may order restrictions on entry/stay of foreigners in India

Used to frame restricted/prohibited area permit rules

Section 5 Liability of master of vessel

Vessel operators are held accountable for aiding foreigner entry into protected zones

Relevant if foreigner entered via hired boat

Section 14 Penalty for contravention

Violation of permit rules can lead to imprisonment up to 5 years & fine

Basis for FIR against Mykhailo Polyakov for unauthorized entry to North Sentinel

Restricted Area Permit (RAP)

Needed by all foreigners to visit specific regions, including A&N tribal areas

He allegedly bypassed RAP protocols, leading to legal action

Protected Area Permit (PAP)

Required for sensitive or border-adjacent tribal regions

North Sentinel falls under this – visit was in direct contravention

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India consider following statements:

1. Sentinelese tribe of North Sentinel Island is notified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
2. Under Indian law no person is allowed to go within 5 nautical miles of North Sentinel Island.
3. Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 provides for imprisonment & fines for unauthorized entry into tribal reserve areas.
4. Foreign nationals are permitted to visit PVTG areas in Andaman & Nicobar Islands with permission of Lieutenant Governor.

Which of above statements is/are correct?

A) 1, 2 & 3 only
B) 1 & 3 only
C) 2, 3 & 4 only
D) All four statements

Correct Answer: (A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is Correct: Sentinelese tribe is officially recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by Government of India.

Statement 2 is Correct: North Sentinel Island has a buffer zone of 5 nautical miles as per Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956. No person is allowed to go within this zone without explicit permission.

Statement 3 is Correct: 1956 Regulation clearly states that unauthorized entry into tribal reserves (including by foreigners or Indian nationals) can lead to imprisonment &/or fines.

Statement 4 is Incorrect: Foreign nationals are strictly prohibited from visiting PVTG areas in A&N Islands even with permission. Government of India through various amendments & orders (such as 2012 amendment) has barred all access to North Sentinel Island in particular. No official permit is granted to visit these areas, regardless of authority level.