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UPSC Prelims 2022 · World Geography · Oceans, Seas and Straits
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 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 a 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.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three are UNCLOS rules.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
2. ✓ CORRECT Ships of all States, even landlocked ones, have the right of innocent passage.
3. ✓ CORRECT The EEZ cannot extend beyond 200 nm from the baseline.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Drops the EEZ limit.
(b) Drops the 12 nm rule.
(c) Drops innocent passage.
The trap
Landlocked States having passage rights sounds odd — but UNCLOS gives it.
🔒 UNCLOS 1982: 12 nm TS, 24 nm contiguous zone, 200 nm EEZ, shelf up to 350 nm.
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