Navigating Sovereignty: The Role Of UNCLOS In Shaping India's Maritime Governance
- IJLLR Journal
- Sep 27
- 1 min read
Sinsa Elizabeth Sunny, BA LLB, Christ Academy Institute of Law, Bangalore
Alan Alex, BCOM LLB, Christ Academy Institute of Law, Bangalore
ABSTRACT
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has become the bedrock of maritime governance, offering a comprehensive legal framework for ocean management, maritime rights, and jurisdictional sovereignty. For India, a nation with over 7,500 kilometres of coastline and strategic maritime interests, UNCLOS has profoundly shaped its approach to maritime governance. This article critically examines the influence of UNCLOS on India's maritime legal framework, ocean policy, and jurisdictional assertions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It explores how UNCLOS provisions have empowered India's sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Continental Shelf, and territorial waters while also creating legal responsibilities for sustainable marine resource management and environmental protection. Furthermore, the article delves into India’s engagement with maritime disputes, regional cooperation, and security dynamics under the purview of UNCLOS. By highlighting the legal- political interface between international obligations and domestic maritime governance, this article offers a nuanced understanding of India’s navigation of sovereignty in a complex maritime order.
Keywords: UNCLOS, Maritime Governance, Sovereignty, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), India, Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
