UNCLOS Provisions — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2022

With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:

A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
Ships of all states, whether coastal or landlocked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

According to Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with this Convention.

Statement 2 is correct

Article 17 of UNCLOS provides that all states, whether coastal or landlocked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.

Statement 3 is correct

Article 57 of UNCLOS states that the exclusive economic zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Diagram illustrating UNCLOS maritime zones extending from land to deep sea bed, detailing distances and legal rights. Zones include Internal Waters, Territorial Sea (12 NM, full sovereignty), Contiguous Zone (24 NM, law enforcement), Exclusive Economic Zone (200 NM, resource rights), and High Seas (free navigation), with color-coded labels and distance markers in nautical miles and kilometers.

Additional Information

UNCLOS (Law of the Sea Treaty) is an international agreement that came into force in 1994. It establishes the legal framework for marine and maritime activities. UNCLOS establishes general obligations for safeguarding the marine environment and protecting the freedom of scientific research on the high seas.
It can hold states liable for damage caused by violation of their international obligations through its three institutions:
- International Tribunal for Law of Sea,
- International Seabed Authority (ISA), and
- Commission on the limits of the continental shelf.
The convention gives a clear definition of Internal Waters, Territorial Waters, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf. It provides rights to landlocked states for access to and from the sea without taxation of traffic through transit states.
Members: It has 167 member states and the European Union. India is a member.