It is the northern group of the Lakshadweep, separated from the Laccadive Islands subgroup roughly by the 11th parallel north.

Formerly the Union Territory was known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands,[2] a name that was changed to Lakshadweep by an act of Parliament in 1973.

[6] In addition, there is the island that gives its name to the group, Amini, which is located at 11°06′N 72°45′E / 11.100°N 72.750°E / 11.100; 72.750 at the northwestern end of Pitti Bank, a largely sunken atoll.

[10] In the latter quarter of the 18th century the islands of the Amindivi group of the Lakshadweep revolted owing to the rigours of the enforcement of the monopoly of coir rope trade.

[12] In 1792, as a consequence of the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the defeat of Tippu Sultan, the Amindivi Islands came under the East India Company rule following the treaty of Srirangapatna.