- Formation: The UNCLOS, 1982 is an international agreement that establishes the legal framework for marine and maritime activities.
- Other Name: It is also known as Law of the Sea.
- Zoning: It divides marine areas into five main zones namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.
- India’s Membership: India ratified the UNCLOS in 1995.
- Significance
- It is the only international convention which stipulates a framework for state jurisdiction in maritime spaces.
- It provides a different legal status to different maritime zones.
- It provides the backbone for offshore governance by coastal states and those navigating the oceans.
- It not only zones coastal states’ offshore areas but also provides specific guidance for states’ rights and responsibilities in the five concentric zones.