Nicobar wildlife sanctuaries proposal: tribal consultation, island names and environmental clearance issue

Direct fact

In May 2026, the Nicobarese Tribal Council opposed the Centre’s proposal to notify three wildlife sanctuaries in Little Nicobar, Meroe and Menchal islands, saying residents were not consulted before the plan was moved forward.

Key specifics

• Three sanctuaries are proposed in the Nicobar group: Little Nicobar, Meroe and Menchal islands.
• The objection was raised by the Nicobarese Tribal Council, a local tribal body.
• The issue concerns consultation with residents before sanctuary notification, a key governance step in protected-area creation.
• The news is linked to environmental protection and tribal rights in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Exam lens

Question type: Environment and governance match-the-following, island names, tribal consultation, protected-area notification. TNPSC may ask which islands are involved and why consultation matters before declaring a wildlife sanctuary.