What is Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

About Line of Actual Control (LAC):

• The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. 
• Although not recognised as an official border, it serves as a de facto border between India and China.
• India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
• It is divided into three sectors:
  • the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
  • the middle sector, in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and
  • the western sector in Ladakh.
• It runs along Tibet and Xinjiang on the Chinese side.
• The LAC has always remained a major cause of tension between India and China. There are areas along the border where India and China have differing perceptions of the LAC.
  • Due to both sides undertaking patrolling upto their respective perceptions of the LAC, transgressions do occur. 
• India’s claim line is the line seen in the official boundary marked on the maps as released by the Survey of India, including both Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan. This means LAC is not the claim line for India.
• In China’s case, LAC is the claim line except in the eastern sector, where it claims the entire Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet.