Government Standardises Names of 27 Geographical Features in Arunachal Pradesh

The Government of India, in consultation with the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh, has formally standardised the names of 27 geographical places and features on Survey of India (SoI) maps, as announced on 7 August 2026.

Categorization of Identified Features in Arunachal Pradesh (27 Total)

The 27 standardized locations span mountain passes, water bodies, historical monuments, and inhabited land areas:

Mountain Passes (4 Features)

Four high-altitude passes were given standardised names, Dzo La, Riza La, Pukur La, and Thag La. Thag La, in particular, is a historic border ridge that has long held strategic significance along the frontier.

Lake & Monument (2 Features)

This category includes Sambho Sarovar, a water body, and the Sher-e-Thapa Memorial, a military monument honouring Havildar Sher Bahadur Thapa, recognised for his role in the 1962 war.

Complete List of 27 Standardised Places/Features in Arunachal Pradesh

1. Longju – Land area
2. Maja – Land area
3. Bisa – Land area
4. Dzo La – Pass
5. Riza La – Pass
6. Pukur La – Pass
7. Thag La – Pass
8. Sambho Sarovar – Lake
9. Bara Kundun – Land area
10. Chhota Kundun – Land area
11. Dhan Bari – Land area
12. Pritnagar – Land area
13. Buddhamandir – Land area
14. Jairampur – Land area
15. Teritnagar – Land area
16. Ramnagar – Land area
17. Jaswant Garh – Land area
18. Sagar – Land area
19. Padma – Land area
20. Jyotinagar – Land area
21. Baisakhi – Land area
22. Sher-e-Thapa Memorial – Monument
23. Chhota Ropuk – Land area
24. Bara Ropuk – Land area
25. Shivaji Nagar – Land area
26. Sunpura – Land area
27. Kamlang Nagar – Land area

Key Takeaways & Strategic Context

1. Cartographic Sovereignty: Official naming and mapping by the Survey of India strengthens India's administrative and territorial clarity over border regions.
2. Counter-Naming Strategy: Serves as a formal response and standardization effort against external unilateral attempts to rename geographic features in North-East India.
3. Historical & Military Recognition: Formally marks iconic military history sites on official topomaps, including Jaswant Garh, Sher-e-Thapa Memorial, Longju, and Baisakhi.
4. Public Awareness: Improves administrative record-keeping, navigation accuracy, and public familiarity with remote border zones.