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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

[[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]] at 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 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>

== 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 | Maritime Silk Route | History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia | Greater India | Indianisation }}
[[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]]).]]

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/>

Piracy, poaching or 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/>

[[Indian Coast Guard]] near the shore and [[Indian Military]]'s integrated [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]] off-shore play the important role in protecting India's EEZ.

==India's existing EEZ area ==

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

==India's increased EEZ claim area ==

In 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 geologic 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]]|National Institute of Oceanography]] (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/>

== Neigbouring 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 Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]] 
| No 
| Contiguous
| Resolved under [[Katchatheevu|Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement]] (Katchatheevu Island).
|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Maldives|Maldives]] 
| No 
| Contiguous
| Resolved under [[India–Maldives relations#1976 Maritime treaty|India–Maldives maritime treaty]] (Minicoy Island).
|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Bangladesh|Bangladesh]] 
| No 
| Contiguous
| Resolved through [[Bangladesh–India_border#Maritime|India–Bangladesh maritime arbitration]].
|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Myanmar|Myanmar]] 
| No 
| 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=":0">{{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 
| 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.sg/books?id=faCjf8FPR14C&pg=PA63&dq=rondo+island&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj604iHnbXqAhXQILcAHdIzDIY4ChDoATACegQIBBAC#v=onepage&q=rondo%20island&f=false The India Directory, Or, Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies], Page 63.</ref><ref name=indo1>[http://indonesia-tourism.com/blog/2012/05/rondo-island-the-rich-uninhabited-island/ Rondo Island, The Rich Uninhabited Island]</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 
| 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 Noi]] (Racha Noi Island) in [[Phuket Province]].
| Thailand has treaty-defined maritime boundaries with India, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia.
|-
| [[Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia|Malaysia]]
| No 
| India's Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island is 630 km from Malaysia's nearest island [[Langkawi]].
|
|}

==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]]

{{India-geo-stub}}

Exclusive economic zone of India - Revision history

AnnieSneed66: General cleanup and content improvements

120.138.13.221: Map was wrong