India’s territorial waters extend up to how many nautical miles from the baseline?

Correct option is D

Correct Answer: (D) 12

Explanation:

• India’s territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline (usually the low-water line along the coast).
• Within this limit, India exercises full sovereignty, similar to its land territory, including air space and seabed.

Information Booster:

• Contiguous Zone: Extends 12 to 24 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea; India can enforce laws related to customs, immigration, sanitation, and taxation.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline; India has sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources.
• These zones are defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982.
• The Indian Coast Guard and Navy patrol these waters to ensure national security and maritime law enforcement.

Additional Information (Why other options are incorrect):

• (A) 100: No maritime zone under UNCLOS extends to 100 nautical miles.
• (B) 24: This marks the limit of the Contiguous Zone, not territorial waters.
• (C) 200: This marks the extent of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), not territorial waters.