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Topic 4 | Law of the sea: Inland waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, continental shelf,
exclusive economic zone, high seas.

Previous Year Question paper analysis – Lawxpertsmv India

YEAR QUESTION MARKS/ CONCEPT

Q.No.

2022 What are the various Rights of States Q5(d) Territorial Waters and
over 'territorial-waters'? rights of the state.
10 marks

2021 Explain the main features of Law of Q6 (c) Features of Law of Sea,
the Sea. What is the difference Territorial Sea and EEZ
between the jurisdiction over 15 marks
Territorial Sea' and Exclusive
Economic Zone'?

2020 Discuss the right and obligations of 10/Q 7(b) Territorial sea and
Coastal States and other States in the contiguous zone
territorial waters and contiguous zone

2019 Briefly explain the following: 10/ Q 6(b) EEZ

(i) Doctrine of Innocent Passage

(ii) Exclusive Economic Zone and the

rights of other States thereto

2018 “Continental Shelf was regarded as 20/ Q 6(a) Continental Shelf

the natural prolongation of the land
mass of the Coastal State.” Critically
examine the delimitation of the
Continental Shelf with the help of

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relevant case law of the International

Court of Justice

2017 Define ‘high seas.’ Discuss in brief 20/Q6(a) High Sea

the provisions of the convention on
high seas. Is freedom of fishing on
high seas recognized?

2016 1. Discuss the legal regime of ‘right of 20/ Q 7(a) Territorial sea
innocent passage’ through the
territorial waters (including
international straits) of a State

2. Discuss the law of delimitation of 20/ Q7(b) Continental Shelf

the continental shelf of a State
including the continental shelf
common to two or more States

3. Discuss the functions, powers and

jurisdiction of the International
Tribunal for the 10/Q 7(c)
Law of the Sea (ITLOS) established
under the UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea, 1982

2015 Under modern International law what 15/ Q 8(b) High Seas
meaning has been assigned to the term
‘High Sea’? Explain. Also discuss the
scope of the concept of freedom of the
High Sea with reference to legality of
nuclear test in the areas of High Sea

2014 1. What is ‘Fishery zone’? How it is 15/ Q 6 (c) Exclusive Economic

different from ‘Exclusive Economic Zone
Zone’? Do you agree with the
statement that ‘a coastal state has a
special interest in the maintenance of

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the productivity of the living

resources in any area of the high seas
adjacent to its territorial sea.’
Elucidate.

2. What is the importance and 15/Q 8(c)

meaning of ‘Base Line’ under UN
convention on Law of Sea 1982? How
is it determined

2013 Explain the rights and duties of 10/Q5(c) Convention

coastal state over continental shelf,
exclusive economic zone and high
seas as defined under the provisions of
UN Convention on Law of Sea
(III),1982

2012 Having regard to the United Nations 30/ Q8(a) Convention

Convention on Law of Sea (UNCLOS
Ill), which came into force in 1994,
and its two predecessor UN
Conventions on the Law of the Sea,
analyse how far these conventions
have been able to effectively codify
customary international law of sea.

2011 “Vessels on the high seas are subject 30 / Q 6(b) High Seas
to no authority except that of the State
whose flag they fly. In virtue of the
freedom of the sea, that is to say, the
absence of any territorial sovereignty
upon the high seas, no State may
exercise any kind of jurisdiction
over foreign vessels.” Give a critical
appraisal of this principle in the light

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of the case law and views of the

international Law commission

2010 Write short notes on the Exclusive 20/ Q 8(a) EEZ

Economic Zone.

2009 Write short note on the ‘Piracy jure 20/Q8(b) High Seas
gentium’ on High Seas

2008 Notes on laws relating to Territorial 10/ Q8(c) High Sea, Territorial Sea
Waters, Continental Shelf and High and Continental Shelf
Seas.

2007 1. Define Continental Shelf and 30/Q 7(a) Continental Shelf, EEZ
distinguish it from Exclusive and territorial sea
Economic Zone. Critically
evaluate the rights and obligations of
coastal states in the Exclusive
Economic Zone.

2. Write explanatory notes on 20/Q8(a)

Territorial Sea.

2006 ------

2005 Discuss the provisions relating to the 30/Q7(a) EEZ

exercise of control by a coastal state
over the artificial islands, installations
and structures constructed by it in the
Exclusive Economic Zone and the
conservation and utilization of living
resources therein.

2004 “The Law of Sea Convention 1982, 30/ Q7(a) Statement based
does not bestow on landlocked states question on Convention
any definite right of transit.” Do you

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agree with this statement? Give

reasons

2003 Explain the juridical basis of claim of 20/Q6(b) Continental Shelf

a coastal state over the continental
shelf in the light of North Sea
Continental shelf cases decision

2002 ‘The legal regime of the Continental 20/ Q 5(c) Continental Shelf
Shelf has undergone profound
changes.’ What is the present concept
of Continental Shelf?

2001 1. A private Korean ship delivered 15/ Q7(b) Problem based question
some narcotics and philanthropic
drugs to an Indian national near
Madras, well within the territorial
waters of India. The Indian
coastguards came to know about it
and chased the Korean ship which
started moving in full speed towards
Colombo. Before it could be captured
by the Indian coastguards, the ship
entered the Sri Lankan territorial
waters. Indian guards entered the Sri
Lankan waters, captured the Korean
ship and brought it to Indian. The Sri
Lankan Government protested.
Discuss the legal position of India
under international law in relation to
the right of hot pursuit.
20/Q8(c)
2. Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries case
and the Straight base-line method

2000 ----

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QUESTIONS ASKED BEFORE 2000

1. Write short notes on Exclusive Economic Zone

ANALYSIS OF LAW OF THE SEA FOR UPSC LAW OPTIONAL MAINS

• In past 20 years of UPSC Law Optional Mains exam questions on nature of

International Law was asked in 18 years altogether making 24 questions. Yes!
Multiple questions have appeared in some years
• In total 24 questions for 20 years have appeared, the probability of this topic being
asked in future UPSC Law optional mains is are quite high.

Therefore its an important topic which shall not be skipped.

By glancing the above questions and identifying their core concepts we can observe the
following

1. High Seas
2. Continental Shelf
3. Exclusive Economic Zone

are the major concepts that shall never be skipped while reading the Law of the Sea for UPSC
Law Optional Mains.

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