Lok Sabha Question No. 1053 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Support on Law of the Sea
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1053 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2022

## SUPPORT ON LAW OF THE SEA

## 1053.     SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has supported United Nations(UN) on the law   of   the   sea   and   on   the   principles   of   international   law   and reflected notably in United Nations Convention on the Law of  the Sea(UNCLOS) 1982;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the   details   of   cooperation   being   maintained   with   the   regional partners in consonance with the Government's vision on the security and growth for all in the region?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) Yes. India ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982 on 29 June 1995. Being a Party to the Convention, India's rights, duties and jurisdiction in the ocean affairs are governed by the provisions of UNCLOS. The convention establishes, with due regard for the sovereignty of all States, a legal order for the seas and oceans which facilitate international communication, and promotes the peaceful uses of the   seas   and   oceans,   the   equitable   and   efficient   utilization   of   their resources,   the   conservation   of   their   living   resources,   and   the   study, protection and preservation of the marine environment.

(c) In line with India's vision of SAGAR- 'Security and Growth for All in the region', Government of India is committed to strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond to ensure a favourable and positive maritime environment. India also participates in regional frameworks to promote maritime cooperation and exchanges in the region.

India   is   engaged   with   its   partners   in   IOR   in   meeting   their requirements in the area of capacity building and training needs. Indian experts are regularly deputed to countries like Mauritius and Seychelles for   enhancing   their   capacities.   India   has   also   offered   multi-pronged support   to   Sri   Lanka   in   the   last   few   months.   Timely   and   effective Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support is among the core elements of India's assistance profile   in   the   IOR   region.     Under Mission   SAGAR,   Indian   Naval   Ship   Kesari   was   deployed   to   Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles. INS Kesari travelled over 7,500 nautical miles over a period of 55 days, to deliver COVID-19 related

assistance in the form of essential medicines, food items and deployment of medical teams for assisting in COVID care management.

With our maritime neighbours in Africa, India has signed defence cooperation MOU with Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. In 2019,   India   signed   three   MoUs   with   Mozambique   on   cooperation   in hydrography, sharing of white shipping information and joint surveillance of Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) aimed at fostering bilateral maritime security cooperation.

India is robustly engaging countries of Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia & Oceania. India has Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a number of countries in the region including Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam. It has Enhanced Strategic Partnership with Malaysia, Special Strategic   Partnership   with   Republic   of   Korea   (ROK)   and   Japan,   and Strategic Partnership with Singapore and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Apart  from   ASEAN,   ASEAN   Regional   Forum   (ARF)   and   East   Asia Summit (EAS), India has also been actively engaged with other regional fora   such   as   Bay   of   Bengal   Initiative   for   Multi-Sectoral   T echnical   and Economic   Cooperation   (BIMSTEC),   Asia   Cooperation   Dialogue   (ACD), Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC), all of which contribute to realization of India's Act East Policy.

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