The Union Territory Of Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls,three reefs and five submerged banks.It is a uni-district Union Territory with a land area of 32 sq.kms and is comprised of 10 inhabited islands,17 uninhabited islands,four newly formed islets and five submerged reefs.The inhabited islands at Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott, Kalpeni and Minicoy.Bitra is the smallest of all having only a population of 225 persons(Census-1991). The uninhabited island Bangaram has been enumerated during 1991 census operation and has a population of 61 persons.The islands are irregularly scattered in the Arabian Sea and lie about 220 to 440 kms from the coastal city of Kochi in Kerala. These islands are linked with Kochi by ship, helicopter and plane services.The administrative capital, Kavaratti is the most developed of the islands with the highest percentage of non-islanders as residents.Malayalam is spoken in all the islands except Minicoy where people speak Mahl which is written in Divehi script and is spoken in Maldives also.The main occupation of the people is fishing, coconut cultivation and coir twisting.Tourism is an emerging industry.