New Delhi: India has embarked on a transformative journey to bolster its maritime sovereignty, submitting a meticulously revised claim to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in April 2025. This bold initiative expands India’s extended continental shelf (ECS) by nearly 10,000 square kilometers in the Central Arabian Sea while deftly avoiding a contentious maritime dispute with Pakistan over the Sir Creek region. By leveraging cutting-edge scientific research and diplomatic ingenuity, India is poised to secure valuable seabed resources, strengthen its blue economy, and assert its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Extended Continental Shelf: A Gateway to Maritime Wealth
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal nations are granted an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 nautical miles from their baselines, conferring exclusive rights to fishing, mining, and other resource-based activities. Beyond this limit, countries can claim an extended continental shelf (ECS) by providing scientific evidence that the seabed and subsoil form a natural extension of their continental landmass. This ECS unlocks access to critical resources, including polymetallic nodules, hydrocarbon deposits, and other minerals vital for industrial and energy sectors.
For India, the ECS represents a strategic asset. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa estimates that successful ECS claims could add approximately 1.2 million square kilometers to India’s maritime domain, bringing its seabed and sub-seabed territory close to its terrestrial area of 3.274 million square kilometers. This expansion promises to enhance India’s maritime sovereignty, fuel economic growth, and advance oceanographic research for sustainable resource management.
India’s ECS Journey: From Rejection to Strategic Revision
India’s pursuit of an extended continental shelf began in 2009, when it submitted an ambitious claim to the CLCS, encompassing vast swathes of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea. The process is complex, requiring detailed geological, geophysical, and bathymetric data to substantiate claims. Overlapping claims with neighboring countries and disputes over maritime boundaries often prolong deliberations.
In 2021, Pakistan challenged India’s claim in the Western Arabian Sea, asserting that approximately 100 nautical miles overlapped with a disputed maritime boundary near Sir Creek, a 96-kilometer tidal estuary separating India’s Kutch region in Gujarat from Pakistan’s Sindh province. This objection culminated in a significant setback in March 2023, when the CLCS rejected India’s entire Arabian Sea claim. However, the Commission’s provision for modified claims offered India a chance to recalibrate its approach.
On April 3, 2025, India submitted a revised claim, strategically splitting its original Western Arabian Sea submission into two partial claims. This revision excluded the disputed Sir Creek area while expanding the claim in the Central Arabian Sea by an additional 10,000 square kilometers. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), emphasized that this approach prioritizes undisputed regions rich in resources, leaving contentious areas for bilateral resolution with Pakistan. Supported by advanced data from NCPOR and other MoES institutions, India’s revised claim is set for review at the CLCS’s 64th session in August 2025.
Decoding the Sir Creek Dispute
The Sir Creek dispute is a historical and geopolitical flashpoint dating back to the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. This 96-kilometer estuary, which flows into the Arabian Sea, marks the approximate boundary between India’s Kutch region and Pakistan’s Sindh province. The dispute hinges on differing interpretations of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and the principles governing its demarcation.
India advocates for the Thalweg Principle, an international maritime law that designates the boundary along the middle of a navigable channel. Pakistan, conversely, contends that Sir Creek is non-navigable, rendering the Thalweg Principle inapplicable. The unresolved demarcation affects the allocation of EEZ and ECS rights, making it a critical issue for both nations. By excluding Sir Creek from its revised claim, India has adopted a pragmatic stance, focusing on securing undisputed maritime territory while preserving avenues for future dialogue with Pakistan.
Navigating Regional Maritime Dynamics
India’s ECS claims extend beyond its rivalry with Pakistan. In the Arabian Sea, portions of India’s claimed territory overlap with Oman’s continental shelf. However, a 2010 bilateral agreement clarifies that these areas are not under dispute, pending formal delimitation. This cooperative framework underscores India’s ability to foster constructive maritime relationships.
In the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, India has claimed approximately 300,000 square kilometers, but these claims face challenges from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Resolving these contests will require diplomatic finesse and robust scientific evidence. India’s strategic approach—balancing cooperation, competition, and scientific rigor—positions it as a formidable player in maritime governance.
Economic and Strategic Dividends of the ECS
The potential approval of India’s ECS claim could reshape its economic and strategic landscape. The Central Arabian Sea is rich in polymetallic nodules, containing minerals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are essential for batteries, renewable energy technologies, and industrial applications. Additionally, oil and gas reserves could enhance India’s energy security, reducing dependence on foreign supplies.
The ECS also catalyzes India’s blue economy, encompassing sectors such as fisheries, offshore energy, marine biotechnology, and maritime trade. By expanding its maritime domain, India can drive economic growth, create jobs, and promote sustainable development. The claim further strengthens India’s maritime sovereignty, amplifying its influence in the IOR, a region of increasing geopolitical significance amid global power dynamics.
Scientifically, the ECS fosters oceanographic research, enabling India to map the seabed, assess resource potential, and ensure sustainable management of marine ecosystems. Institutions like NCPOR are pivotal, employing state-of-the-art technology to support India’s maritime ambitions.
The CLCS and UNCLOS: Pillars of Maritime Governance
The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), based at UN headquarters in New York, is tasked with evaluating ECS claims under UNCLOS. The Commission assesses scientific and technical data to determine the outer limits of a country’s continental shelf, issuing final and binding recommendations per Article 76 of UNCLOS. The process is rigorous, ensuring claims are grounded in evidence, but overlapping shelves often lead to extended deliberations.
India’s revised claim, fortified by enhanced data and a strategic focus on undisputed areas, aligns with the CLCS’s stringent standards. The upcoming review in August 2025 will be a critical milestone in India’s maritime journey.
Future Prospects: Opportunities and Challenges
As India awaits the CLCS’s verdict, it faces both opportunities and challenges. Resolving overlapping claims with Myanmar and Sri Lanka will demand diplomatic agility, while bilateral talks with Pakistan over Sir Creek remain a long-term objective. Economically, India must invest in infrastructure, technology, and expertise to harness ECS resources sustainably.
Geopolitically, an expanded maritime presence will elevate India’s stature in the IOR, enabling it to shape regional security and resource management frameworks. By aligning its ECS strategy with environmental and scientific goals, India can emerge as a responsible maritime power committed to global norms.
Conclusion
India’s revised ECS claim in the Central Arabian Sea is a masterstroke of strategy and diplomacy. By expanding its maritime territory by 10,000 square kilometers and sidestepping the Sir Creek dispute, India is poised to unlock a wealth of economic, strategic, and scientific opportunities. As the CLCS prepares to review India’s submission, the nation stands at a pivotal juncture, ready to redefine its maritime destiny. With its blend of scientific precision, diplomatic pragmatism, and economic vision, India’s maritime odyssey is a beacon of ambition and resilience, charting a course for a prosperous and influential future in the Indian Ocean and beyond.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of India’s revised continental shelf claim in 2025?
India’s revised claim to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) expands its maritime territory by 10,000 square kilometers in the Central Arabian Sea. This move strengthens India’s maritime sovereignty, bypasses the contentious Sir Creek dispute with Pakistan, and potentially unlocks access to valuable seabed resources.
2. Why did India exclude the Sir Creek region from its latest submission?
India excluded Sir Creek to avoid legal and diplomatic entanglements with Pakistan, which had previously challenged the claim in this disputed area. By focusing on undisputed regions, India maximizes its chances of CLCS approval while keeping the door open for future bilateral negotiations.
3. What kind of resources are at stake in India’s extended continental shelf (ECS)?
The ECS contains critical minerals such as polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, and manganese, as well as hydrocarbon deposits. These resources are vital for industrial use, energy security, and the growth of India’s blue economy.
4. How does this ECS claim affect India’s regional maritime relationships?
India has shown diplomatic flexibility by engaging in cooperative frameworks with Oman, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka regarding overlapping maritime claims. The ECS expansion strengthens India’s role in regional maritime governance without escalating tensions.
5. What is the role of the CLCS and what happens next?
The CLCS, under UNCLOS, evaluates the scientific validity of continental shelf claims. India’s revised submission will be reviewed during the CLCS’s 64th session in August 2025. If accepted, it will legally extend India’s rights over the new seabed area.
