Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)

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In news : Recently, the President of India witnessed a spectacular operational demonstration by Andaman and Nicobar Command at Swaraj Dweep

Key updates 

• Integral combat platforms and forces of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) demonstrated multi-dimensional operational capabilities of the Command, including an amphibious landing.
• The demonstration highlighted the synergy, cooperation and interoperability between the Services towards achieving desired outcomes.
• Naval GunFire Support (NGFS), Counter Surface Force Operations (CSFO), Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and vertical replenishment at sea were also demonstrated. 
• The amphibious landing of Infantry troops on the beach was executed by Landing Ship Tank (Medium) and Landing Craft Utility

About Andaman and Nicobar Command(ANC) 

• ANC is the first integrated(Tri-service) theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces in India with headquarters at Port Blair. 
• It operates directly under the  Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee(CoSC).
• It was created in 2001 to safeguard India’s strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca by increasing rapid deployment of military assets in the region. 
• It provides logistical and administrative support to naval ships which are sent on deployment to East Asia and the Pacific Ocean

Strategic importance of ANC

• Control over vital global shipping route
• Control over critical shipping chokepoints
• QUAD force multiplier
• Historic and contemporary geostrategic soft and hard power
• Port-development led encirclement
• Protection of exclusive economic zone

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee(CoSC),

• The Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee(CoSC), was the head of the Indian Armed Forces, roughly based on the British Chiefs of Staff Committee. 
• The senior-most Chief of Staff was appointed to serve as a Chairman until he retired
• The last Chairman was the Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat. 
• After its creation, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC). 
• Earlier, the chairmanship of the CoSC was held in rotation by the senior-most service chief for short periods and the arrangement was found to be unsatisfactory.

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