Indian Continental Shelf Claim in Arabian Sea
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TH
Context: India has expanded its continental shelf claim in the Arabian Sea by nearly 10,000 square km, modifying earlier submissions to the UN to sidestep maritime disputes with Pakistan.
About Indian Continental Shelf Claim in Arabian Sea:
• What is Continental Shelf?
• The continental shelf is the extended submerged border of a continent, offering rights over seabed resources beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Coastal nations can claim beyond 200 nautical miles, based on scientific proof of natural prolongation.
• The continental shelf is the extended submerged border of a continent, offering rights over seabed resources beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Coastal nations can claim beyond 200 nautical miles, based on scientific proof of natural prolongation.
• What India is Claiming?
• India has sought recognition for an additional 10,000 sq. km in the central Arabian Sea. It supplements India’s original 2009 submission with partial claims to avoid the Sir Creek dispute with Pakistan.
• India has sought recognition for an additional 10,000 sq. km in the central Arabian Sea.
• It supplements India’s original 2009 submission with partial claims to avoid the Sir Creek dispute with Pakistan.
• Organization Involved: Submission is made to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Significance:
• If accepted, India’s extended continental shelf would add 1.2 million sq. km, almost matching India’s landmass (3.274 million sq. km). Unlocks potential mining rights for minerals, oil, and polymetallic nodules. Strengthens India’s maritime security, energy security, and blue economy ambitions. Avoids geopolitical complications with Pakistan while maintaining negotiation options for overlapping claims.
• If accepted, India’s extended continental shelf would add 1.2 million sq. km, almost matching India’s landmass (3.274 million sq. km).
• Unlocks potential mining rights for minerals, oil, and polymetallic nodules.
• Strengthens India’s maritime security, energy security, and blue economy ambitions.
• Avoids geopolitical complications with Pakistan while maintaining negotiation options for overlapping claims.
About Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS):
• What it is? A specialized body under UNCLOS facilitating legal establishment of a country’s outer continental shelf limits beyond 200 nautical miles.
• Headquarters: Based at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA.
• Established in: 1997, following UNCLOS guidelines. In 1964, the Convention on the Continental Shelf came into force.
• In 1964, the Convention on the Continental Shelf came into force.
• Aim: To assist coastal States in defining the outer boundaries of their continental shelf based on scientific and technical data.
• Functions: Examine Data: Review submissions by coastal states regarding seabed extension. Make Recommendations: Advise whether submitted areas qualify under Support Technical Preparation: Provide scientific consultation during claim development if requested. Non-Prejudicial to Boundary Disputes: CLCS recommendations do not settle maritime boundary conflicts between neighbouring states.
• Examine Data: Review submissions by coastal states regarding seabed extension.
• Make Recommendations: Advise whether submitted areas qualify under
• Support Technical Preparation: Provide scientific consultation during claim development if requested.
• Non-Prejudicial to Boundary Disputes: CLCS recommendations do not settle maritime boundary conflicts between neighbouring states.