AnnieSneed66 at 16:22, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T16:22:18Z

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{{short description|Economic zone exclusive to India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
[[File:Map of the Territorial Waters of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean.png|thumb|EEZs in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.]]

[[India]] has the 18th-largest [[exclusive economic zone]] (EEZ) with a total size of {{convert|2305143|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="searoundus">{{cite web |url=http://www.seaaroundus.org/data/#/eez.aspx |title=Sea Around Us – Fisheries, Ecosystems and Biodiversity |access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref> It includes the [[Lakshadweep]] island group in the [[Laccadive Sea]] off the southwestern coast of India<ref>{{cite web|title=Lakshadweep |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lakshadweep.aspx |publisher=encyclopedia.com |access-date=1 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127104251/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lakshadweep.aspx |archive-date=27 January 2010 }}</ref> and the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]] and the [[Andaman Sea]].<ref name="tribune-watchtower">{{cite news |last1=Sawhney |first1=Pravin |title=A watchtower on the high seas |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/a-watchtower-on-the-high-seas/720929.html |newspaper=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |access-date=16 April 2019 |date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416050217/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/a-watchtower-on-the-high-seas/720929.html |archive-date=16 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> India's EEZ is bordered to the west by [[Pakistan]], to the south by the [[Maldives]] and [[Sri Lanka]] and to the east by [[Bangladesh]], [[Myanmar]], [[Exclusive economic zone of Thailand|Thailand]], [[Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia|Malaysia]] and [[Exclusive economic zone of Indonesia|Indonesia]]. Based on new scientific data, India has petitioned United Nations to extend its EEZ from 200 [[Nautical mile]]s to 350 nautical miles.<ref name=EEZind1>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-hopes-to-double-its-eez/article2096905.ece |title=India hopes to double its EEZ |first=P. |last=Sunderarajan |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=1 April 2017|date=12 June 2011 }}</ref>

==Historic context==

{{see also | Greater India | Indianisation | History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia | Indo-Mesopotamia relations | Indo-Roman trade relations | Maritime Silk Route }}
[[file:Hinduism Expansion in Asia de.svg|thumb|Historic Greater India zone and expansion of Indian-origin polities and religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism).]]
{{expand section |date=March 2026}}

== Legal framework ==

India legally defined the concept of EEZ in the ''"Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976"''. In June 1997, India also ratified [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|UNCLOS]]. India also enacted the ''"Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of fishing by foreign vessels) Act, 1981"'' prohibiting fishing by foreign vessel within Indian EEZ without a license. Additionally, India has also enacted laws regulation the fishing and [[Fishery Survey of India|fisheries]] by Indian fishing vessels operating in the EEZ.<ref name=EEZind2>[https://www.geographyandyou.com/exclusive-economic-zone-seas-around-india/ The Exclusive Economic Zone of the Seas around India], 24 January 2018.</ref>

==Importance of EEZ==
{{see also | Coastal India }}
[[File:Indian_cultural_zone.svg|thumb|right|240x180px|[[Greater India]]: Conceptually related to EEZ, the historic Indian cultural influence expanded across Southeast Asia through numerous Indianized Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms along the [[Maritime Silk Route]], such as in Indonesia and Malaysia ([[Srivijaya]], [[Majapahit]], [[Kalingga]], [[Kutai]], [[Singhasari]], [[Tarumanagara]], [[Pan Pan (kingdom)|Pan Pan]], [[Gangga Negara]] and [[Langkasuka]]), Indochina ([[Champa]], [[Kingdom of Funan|Funan]], and [[Chenla]]), Thailand ([[Dvaravati]]), and Myanmar ([[Pagan Kingdom|Pagan]]).]]

===Economic importance ===
{{anchor | Economic | Economy }}
{{see also | Economy of India | List of countries by largest historical GDP }}

An EEZ provides a nation greater access to oil, natural gas, minerals, [[Fishing in India|commercial fishing]] and other marine resources, freedom of navigation, international trade, national security, and strategic leverage over other nations.<ref name=EEZind1/><ref name=EEZind2/> With 7,500 km [[Coastal India|coastline]] and an EEZ of over 2.3 million km2, India has exclusive control over the resources in its EEZ including navigation of [[National Shipping Board|seafaring trade and transport vessels]] in this area.<ref name=EEZind2/> As per 2014 study, India exploits only 3.2 million tonnes per year marine fishery resources out of potential 3.92 million tonne in its coastal areas.<ref name=EEZind2/>

===Regional maritime security ===
{{anchor | Regional | Security }}
{{see also | Countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal | Maritime Silk Route | Foreign trade of India | Bay_of_Bengal#Channels| l4 = Channels in Bay of Bengal }}

Piracy, poaching or [[illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing|illegal fishing]] by foreign vessels, freedom of navigation, transgression of foreign vessels into Indian EEZ, and conflicting claims are major issues in EEZ. [[Piracy in the Strait of Malacca]] is a major concern for all the nations. Studies have shown decline in fishing stocks and destruction of several [[marine ecology|marine ecological]] areas in Indian EEZ due to organized illegal poaching and fishing resulting in depletion of many [[Endangered Species|endangered]] and [[Threatened species|threatened]] species. Freedom of the navigation has become a cause of concern due to piracy. National security is also threatened by actions of China around Indian EEZ. Conflicting claims over EEZ by nations leads to disputes, such as India-Pakistan [[Sir Creek]] dispute. In the past, UNCLOS has granted several contradicting claims while increasing the EEZ based on the evidence related to the length of continental shelf. These UNCLOS contradictions have resulted into overlapping EEZ claims by several nations competing for the resources in the expanded EEZ.<ref name=EEZind2/>

===National security and geostrategy ===
{{anchor | Regional | Security }}
{{see also | Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean region | Maritime domain awareness | Maritime power }}

The [[Indian Coast Guard]] near the shore and the [[Indian Military]]'s integrated [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] off-shore play the important role in protecting India's EEZ while [[Andaman_and_Nicobar_Command#Strategic_Importance_of_ANC||exercising control]] over the geostratgically important [[Bay_of_Bengal#Channels|channels in Bay of Bengal]] and the important [[Choke_point#Historical_examples|international chokepoint]] of [[Strait of Malacca]].<ref name=stra2>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200706233421/http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/growing-strategic-importance-andaman-nicobar-islands/ The Growing Strategic Importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]}}, Future Directions org, 15 JUNE 2017.</ref><ref name=stra3>[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/more-muscle-for-india-s-andaman-and-nicobar-defence-posts-to-counter-hawkish-china/story-8YkEo28c3WZM9Lqq2iiJnK.html More muscle for India's Andaman and Nicobar defence posts to counter hawkish China], [[Hindustan Times]], 26 Aug 2017.</ref>

==India's EEZ==
{{anchor | IndianEEZ}}

===India's existing EEZ area ===
{{anchor | ExistingEEZ}}

{| class="wikitable"
! EEZ !! Area (km2 / mi2)
|-
| [[Mainland India]] and [[Lakshadweep]]
| {{convert|1641514|km2|sqmi}}
|-
| [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
| {{convert|663629|km2|sqmi}}
|-
| Total
| {{convert|2305143|km2|sqmi}}
|}

===India's increased EEZ claim area ===
{{anchor | NewEEZ | ClaimedEEZ}}

====Summary of new claims ====
{{anchor | SummaryNewEEZ | SummaryNewClaims}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Area !! Additional Claim Area (km2 / mi2)
|-
| [[Arabian Sea]]
| {{convert|1200000|km2|sqmi}}
|-
| [[Bay of Bengal]] and [[Indian Ocean]]
| {{convert|300000|km2|sqmi}}
|-
| Total
| {{convert|1500000|km2|sqmi}}
|}

==== Arabia Sea - India's 2025 revised new claims under review by CLCS====
{{anchor | ArabianSeaClaim | 2025ArabianSeaClaim }}

As of early 2026, India is actively pursuing an expanded maritime claim, specifically focusing on its [[Extended Continental Shelf]] (ECS) in the Central Arabian Sea. The new claims are based on updated technical data from India’s [[National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research]] (NCPOR), providing evidence that the seabed is a natural prolongation of India’s landmass. In April 2025, after India's original 2009 claim was rejected by the [[Convention on the Continental Shelf]] (CLCS) in March 2023 due to objections from Pakistan regarding the Sir Creek area, India submitted revised partial claims for the Central Arabian Sea by splitting its submission to isolate disputed Sir Creek areas from uncontested ones, allowing the CLCS to review in the 64th CLCS session (August 2025), with ongoing consultations likely extending into 2026. If accepted, this extension, combined with the 2 million sq. km EEZ, would give India control over a total seabed area of roughly 3.2 million sq. km, nearly equal to its total landmass. In the Sir Creek dispute Pakistan objects to India’s EEZ claims in the Western Arabian Sea, resulting in an EEZ claim overlap of 100 nautical miles.<ref name="UN_Submission_2025">{{cite web |title=Submissions to the Commission: Submission by India |url=https://www.un.org |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2026-03-12}}</ref><ref name="Maritime_Tactics">{{cite news |last=Singh |first=A. |date=2025-04-15 |title=India's Tactical Shift in the Arabian Sea Maritime Claim |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com |access-date=2026-03-12}}</ref><ref name="ECS_Expansion">{{cite journal |last=Gupta |first=R. |year=2025 |title=Geopolitics of India's Continental Shelf |journal=Journal of Indian Ocean Studies |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=45-52}}</ref> If granted, the total seabed area under Indian jurisdiction would nearly equal its terrestrial landmass, providing exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules and hydrocarbons.<ref name="Resource_Security">{{cite report |title=Strategic Mineral Resources in the Indian EEZ |publisher=Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India |year=2025}}</ref>

==== Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean - India's 2025 revised new claims under review by CLCS====
{{anchor | IoRClaim| 2025IoRClaim}}

India has also claimed additional 300,000 square km in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, which are under evaluation.<ref name="Resource_Security"/>

==== 2009-2010 claims by India - rejected by CLCS in March 2023 due to objections by Pakistan====
{{anchor | 2009Claim | 2009Claims | OldClaim | OldClaims }}

Earlier in 2009-2010, based on the new 6,000 pages sedimentary and scientific evidence, India petitioned United Nations for increasing Indian EEZ from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles. Extension of EEZ from 200 to 350 nautical mile will almost double India's present EEZ. UNCLOS permits extension of EEZ beyond the usual 200 nautical miles limit, to a maximum of 350 nautical miles, if the evidence shows that [[continental shelf]] extends beyond 200 nautical miles. For the integrated management and mapping of the EEZ, India's [[Ministry of Earth Sciences]] (MoES) initiated an ongoing project in 1999 which was only 30% complete in 2018. A team of 60 scientists from several national institutes began undertaking multi-disciplinary studies on [[Digital geological mapping|geo-scientific mapping]], [[Physical geography|physiography]], [[sedimentology]], [[paleoclimatology]] and [[Geology of the Himalaya#Sub-Himalaya (Churia Hills or Sivaliks) tectonic plate|Himalayan tectonics]], [[Water resources in India|hydrology of India]] and [[monsoon of South Asia]], [[Mineral resource estimation|mineral resource availability]]. Scientists and researchers involved in the studies come from several institutes and universities, such as the [[National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research]] (NCPOR), [[National Institute of Oceanography, India]] (NIO), [[National Institute of Ocean Technology]] (NIOT), [[Geological Survey of India]] (GSI) and many universities. These studies also enhance the preparedness against environmental hazards and socio-economic well-being of people living in Coastal India.<ref name=EEZind2/>

== Neighbouring EEZs ==
{{anchor | Bordering | Border | EEZ | Maritime | Neighbouring | Neighbour| Neighboring | Neighbor }}
{{see also | History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia | Indianisation }}
Neighbouring EEZ of other nations from west to east are:

{| class="wikitable"
! EEZ !! Dispute (Y/N) !! Distance !! Comments
|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Pakistan|Pakistan]]
| Yes
| Contiguous
| [[Sir Creek#Indo-Pakistani Border Dispute|Sir Creek dispute]]

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Maldives|Maldives]]
| No 
| Contiguous
| Resolved under [[India–Maldives relations#1976 Maritime treaty|India–Maldives maritime treaty]], and both agreed that [[Minicoy Island]] will remain part of India.

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]]
| No 
| Contiguous
| Resolved under [[India–Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreements|Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreements]]. Sri Lanka's [[Katchatheevu]] island on [[Adam's Bridge|Ram Setu]] is the nearest Island to Indian part of Ram Setu.<ref name=ktech1>[https://www.livemint.com/Politics/acjYPxP6XuKnlTLqJ2P3QI/Katchatheevu-The-big-issue-over-a-small-island.html Katchatheevu: The big issue over a small island], [[Livemint]], 15 Jun 2016.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6V2KCgAAQBAJ&q=Kachchatheevu&pg=PT482|title=The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy|last1=Malone|first1=David M.|last2=Mohan|first2=C. Raja|last3=Raghavan|first3=Srinath|date=2015-07-23|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780191061196|language=en}}</ref>

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Bangladesh|Bangladesh]]
| No 
| Contiguous .
| Resolved through [[Bangladesh–India border#Maritime|India–Bangladesh maritime arbitration]]. [[Saint Martin's Island]], a small coral island in the north-eastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the [[Cox's Bazar]] is nearest Bangladeshi island to India's Mizoram.

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Myanmar|Myanmar]]
| No 
| Contiguous.
| India's [[Landfall Island]] is 40 km from Myanmar's [[Coco Islands]]. India is developing Myanmar's strategic [[Sittwe Port]] as part of [[Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project]].<ref name="Bhar1">{{cite news|last=Purushothaman|first=Vakkom|url=http://tntmagazine.in/news/mizoram/kaladan-multi-modal-transit-transport-project-to-link-sea-route-in-myanmar-with-mizoram/|title=Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project to link sea route in Myanmar with Mizoram|newspaper=The Northeast Times|access-date=11 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415053036/http://tntmagazine.in/news/mizoram/kaladan-multi-modal-transit-transport-project-to-link-sea-route-in-myanmar-with-mizoram/|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=update3>[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-starts-construction-of-1600-cr-mizoram-myanmar-kaladan-road/article23577107.ece India starts construction of ₹1,600-cr Mizoram-Myanmar Kaladan road ], Business Line, 17 April 2018.</ref> See also [[India–Myanmar barrier#EEZ|India–Myanmar maritime boundary]].

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Indonesia|Indonesia]]
| No 
| Contiguous.
| India's southernmost territory [[Indira Point]] is 135 km north of Indonesia's northernmost territory [[Rondo Island]].<ref name=rondo8>James Horsburgh, 1852, [https://books.google.com/books?id=faCjf8FPR14C&dq=rondo+island&pg=PA63 The India Directory, Or, Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies], Page 63.</ref><ref name=indo1>{{Cite web |url=http://indonesia-tourism.com/blog/2012/05/rondo-island-the-rich-uninhabited-island/ |title=Rondo Island, The Rich Uninhabited Island |access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103172516/http://indonesia-tourism.com/blog/2012/05/rondo-island-the-rich-uninhabited-island/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> India is developing Indonesia's [[Sabang, Indonesia#Port|Sabang deepsea port]] under [[India–Indonesia relations#Strategic|strategic economic and military partnership]].<ref name=portbuild1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/eyeing-southeast-asia-india-builds-port-in-indonesia/articleshow/68490478.cms Eyeing Southeast Asia, India builds port in Indonesia], [[The Economic Times|Economic Times]], 20 March 2019.</ref>

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Thailand|Thailand]]
| No 
| Contiguous.
| Thailand has treaty-defined maritime boundaries with India, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia. India's [[Tillangchong]] island north of Camorta Island in Nicobar is 440 km from Thailand's [[Similan Islands#Geography|Ko Huyong]] in [[Similan Islands]] group). India's [[Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar)|Campbell Bay]] on [[Great Nicobar Island]] is 488 km from Thailand's [[Ko Racha|Ko Racha Noi]] (Ko Raya Noi) island in [[Phuket Province]].

|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia|Malaysia]]
| No 
| Not applicable as India and Malaysia do not share any EEZ boundary.
| India's Campbell Bay on [[Great Nicobar Island]] is 630 km from Malaysia's nearest island [[Langkawi]] in [[Strait of Malacca]] [[Choke_point#Historical_examples|choke point]].
|}

==Gallery ==

<gallery>
File:Indian Exclusive Economic Zones.PNG|Indian EEZ.

File:Peopling of eurasia.jpg|According to the [[Early human migrations|Coastal hypothesis]], [[Recent African origin of modern humans|early modern humans spread from Africa]] along the northern rim of the Indian Ocean.

File:Indian Ocean Monsoon.jpg|During summer, warm continental masses draw moist air from the Indian Ocean, producing heavy rainfall. The process is reversed during winter, resulting in dry conditions.

</gallery>

==See also ==
{{portal | India }}
* [[Climate of India]]
* [[Borders of India]]
* [[List of disputed territories of India|Disputed territories of India]]
* [[Extreme points of India]]
* [[Geography of India]]
* [[Outline of India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{World topic|title=[[Exclusive economic zone]]s|Exclusive economic zone of|noredlinks=yes}}

[[Category:Exclusive economic zones|India]]
[[Category:Borders of India]]
[[Category:Economy of India]]

Exclusive economic zone of India - Revision history

AnnieSneed66 at 16:22, 12 March 2026