Question

Given below are two statements: Statement (I): A belt of coastal waters extending utmost 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state is called territorial sea. Statement (II): A belt of coastal waters extending utmost 24 nautical miles from the outer edge of the territorial sea is called contiguous zone. In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
• C. Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
• D. Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.

Hint:

Remember that all UNCLOS maritime zones (Territorial Sea = 12 nm, Contiguous Zone = 24 nm, and Exclusive Economic Zone = 200 nm) are measured from the coastal baseline, not from the edges of other zones.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines different maritime zones over which coastal nations have varying degrees of jurisdiction and sovereignty.
These zones are measured outward from a standardized baseline along the nation's coast.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate both statements:
Statement (I):
UNCLOS defines the "territorial sea" as a belt of coastal water that extends up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coastal baseline.
The coastal nation has full sovereignty over its territorial sea, including the airspace above and the seabed below, subject to the right of innocent passage for foreign vessels.
Thus, Statement I is correct.
Statement (II):
The "contiguous zone" is a band of water where a coastal nation can exercise limited control to prevent and punish infractions of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws.
According to UNCLOS, the contiguous zone can extend up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline, not from the outer edge of the territorial sea.
Because the territorial sea covers the first 12 nautical miles, the contiguous zone extends only an additional 12 nautical miles beyond the outer boundary of the territorial sea.
Therefore, Statement II is incorrect because of how the measurement boundary is described.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement I is correct, and Statement II is incorrect.
This corresponds to Option (C).