Answer By law4u team
India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles from its baseline under the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1976 and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). Within this zone, India does not have full sovereignty like territorial waters, but it has special sovereign rights for specific purposes. 1. Sovereign rights over natural resources India has exclusive rights to: Explore and exploit living resources (fish, marine life) Explore and extract non-living resources (oil, gas, minerals) Use energy from water, currents, and wind No other country can do this without India’s permission. 2. Jurisdiction over artificial structures India has control over: Offshore drilling platforms Artificial islands Marine research installations Energy production structures It can regulate construction, safety, and usage. 3. Marine scientific research India has the right to: Conduct and regulate scientific research in EEZ Approve or reject foreign research activities Foreign states need India’s consent for research. 4. Environmental protection India can: Enforce laws to protect marine environment Prevent and control pollution from ships or installations Regulate waste dumping in the EEZ 5. Customs, fiscal, and security jurisdiction (limited) India can regulate: Customs violations related to resources Economic exploitation activities Certain security-related activities affecting resources However, full security sovereignty like territorial waters does not apply. 6. Freedom of navigation for other states Other countries can: Sail through India’s EEZ freely Lay submarine cables and pipelines (with regulations) Conduct lawful navigation and communication But they cannot exploit resources without permission. 7. Enforcement rights India enforces EEZ rights through: Indian Coast Guard Indian Navy (for security support) Maritime laws and environmental regulations Licensing and permits for fishing and exploration 8. Legal limitation EEZ is not sovereign territory. So: Foreign ships retain navigation rights India’s control is restricted to resource-related matters 9. Summary India’s EEZ rights mainly include exclusive control over natural resources, energy production, scientific research, and environmental protection up to 200 nautical miles, while allowing freedom of navigation to other countries under international maritime law.
