India counters China's 'Renaming Game', marks 27 key Arunachal Pradesh locations on official map; Full list inside
India has consistently maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of the country and that any administrative or cartographic measures taken by the Chinese Ministry do not affect New Delhi's legal and territorial position. According to an official statement by the Home Ministry, the exercise was undertaken in consultation with the Arunachal Government and focused on ensuring accurate identification of these geographical locations.
Amid China’s repeated attempts to rename some locations in Arunachal Pradesh, India, on Friday (August 7, 2026) formally identified 27 places and features in the state on the official maps of the Survey of India. According to an official statement by the Home Ministry, the exercise was undertaken in consultation with the Arunachal Government and focused on ensuring accurate identification of these geographical locations. “The Government of India, in consultation with the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh, has marked a total of twenty-seven (27) locations/geographical features situated in Arunachal Pradesh on the official maps of the Survey of India, along with their standard names. The objective of formally marking these on the Survey of India’s map of Arunachal Pradesh is to facilitate their precise identification and foster greater awareness among the general public,” the official statement read. The move comes against the backdrop of China’s act of releasing list of so-called standardised names for several locations in the border state at regular intervals, with New Delhi categorically rejecting it. New Delhi has consistently maintained that Beijing has no bearing on India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. It has termed such moves “vain and preposterous” while emphasizing that the state “was, is, and will” always remain an integral part of India. ALSO READ:Jharkhand student protests: Students to continue protest despite talks with government, no final agreement yetWhat is the strategic importance of key Arunachal locations marked on India’s official map?The 27 notified places formally marked on India’s official map include many strategically important high-altitude passes like Riza La, Dzo La, and Pukur La. Maja, a village near Long Ju located in Upper Subansiri district, has also been identified on the map. Meanwhile, Thag La, the place where one of the opening battles of the 1962 war between India and China took place, has also been marked on the map. Jairampur, a key logistics hub in Changlang district that supports the movement of security forces towards eastern Arunachal Pradesh and the Myanmar frontier, has also been formally marked on the Indian official map. Longju, located along the LAC, was one of the earliest flashpoints in India-China border tensions. Chinese forces entered the place in 1959. The list includes other locations such as Jaswant Garh, which contains the memorial of 1962 war hero Jaswant Singh Rawat on the Tawang road. Meanwhile, the Sher-e-Thapa Memorial commemorates 1962 war hero Trilok Singh Thapa, along with Bara Ropuk, Chhota Ropuk, Shivaji Nagar, Kamlang Nagar, Sunpura, and Buddhamandir. Image: Wikimedia CommonsHere’s the full list of 27 places:Place Name1Longju2Maja3Bisa4Dzo La5Riza La6Pukur La7Thag La8Sambho Sarovar9Bara Kundun10Chhota Kundun11Dhan Bari12Pritnagar13Buddhamandir14Jairampur15Teritnagar16Ramnagar17Jaswant Garh18Sagar19Padma20Jyotinagar21Baisakhi22Sher-e-Thapa Memorial23Chhota Ropuk24Bara Ropuk25Shivaji Nagar26Sunpura27Kamlang NagarALSO READ:100% tariff threat for India? US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill targeting countries that buy Russian oil, what happens next?India’s response is not just symbolicIn 2017, China released the first list of the standardised names of 6 locations in Zangnan (Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh). In 2021, it issued the second list of 15 places, followed by another list with names for 11 locations in 2023. India has consistently maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of the country and that any administrative or cartographic measures taken by the Chinese Ministry do not affect New Delhi’s legal and territorial position. Why do these 27 locations matter?The list contains names ofborder flashpointssuch as Longju, Thag LaThe list identifiesstrategic passeslike Dzo La, Riza La, and Pukur LaOn theMilitaryorlogistics front,places like Jairampur are very important. The map remembers thewar historywith Jaswant Garh, Sher-e-Thapa MemorialIn terms ofsettlementsandothergeographical features, Maja, Kamlang Nagar, and Sunpura matter. ALSO READ:Buying a new car? Supreme Court’s latest insurance rule makes long term cover mandatory; Know complete detailsFirst published on:Aug 08, 2026 09:22 AM ISTGet Breaking News First and Latest Updates from India and around the world on News24. Follow News24 onFacebook,Twitter. End of ArticleAbout the AuthorSheetal PrasadSheetal Prasad is a news author with 3 years of experience in journalism. She covers a diverse range of topics, including politics, entertainment, and trending news, ensuring her readers stay informed about the latest developments. Sheetal holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Adamas University, West Bengal, which has equipped her with essential storytelling skills. Previously, she worked as a frontline journalist at a digital news platform in Kolkata, West Bengal. In addition to her articles, Sheetal manages a live blog that offers real-time updates on breaking news and trending stories. This interactive platform allows her audience to engage with the news as it unfolds, enhancing their understanding of significant issues. Every article she writes is rigorously verified by the News Desk team before publication, ensuring accuracy and reliability. 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