Mainland India
Mainland India are the territories of India located on the Asian continental mainland. This includes all the parts of India except the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep and the Indian polar research stations of Bharati, Dakshin Gangotri, Himadri, IndARC and Maitri. The disputed Kashmir Valley is claimed by both India and Pakistan. While the Aksai Chin and Shaksgam are parts of the Jammu and Kashmir under Chinese administration. India claims all of Jammu and Kashmir, including the parts it has never had control over as integral parts of its territory—so does Pakistan.
Because more than 99% of India's land and population is on the mainland itself, politically and historically, the term has little significance. It is primarily used by the residents outside mainland India, and by amateur radio operators as the territories outside the mainland have a different callsign block.
Occasionally, the term is also used by the residents of Northeast Indian states to refer the rest of India. Northeast India is connected to mainland India with a narrow strip of land, called the Siliguri Corridor.
