UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper I
Question 85: International Relations and Current Affairs
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements :
- 1.A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
- 2.Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
- 3.The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
UNCLOS Article 3 lets a coastal State set the breadth of its territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles from baselines drawn under the Convention. Under Article 17, ships of all States, coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through it. Article 57 says the Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured. All three statements are correct.
- 1. The territorial sea may extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
- 2. Ships of all States enjoy innocent passage through the territorial sea.
- 3. The EEZ cannot extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Ships of all States enjoy innocent passage through the territorial sea.
The red flag in statement 2 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: The territorial sea may extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: The EEZ cannot extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Statement 3 on the EEZ is also correct.
- (b) Wrong. Statement 1 on the 12-mile limit is also correct.
- (c) Wrong. Statement 2 on innocent passage is also correct.
- (d) Correct. All three match UNCLOS.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.