Political Status
Officially, the island has been administered by India as part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory since 1947. However, because there has never been any treaty with the people of the island, nor any record of a physical occupation whereby the people of the island have conceded sovereignty, the island exists in a curious state of limbo under established international law and can be seen as a sovereign entity under Indian protection. It is, therefore, one of the de facto autonomous regions of India.
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has recently stated that they have no intention to interfere with the lifestyle or habitat of the Sentinelese and are not interested in pursuing any further contact with them.
| Census | Population estimate |
|---|---|
| 1901 | 117 |
| 1911 | 117 |
| 1921 | 117 |
| 1931 | 70 |
Read more about this topic: North Sentinel Island
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