Constitution Section 297 — Things of value within territorial waters or continental shelf and resources of the exclusive economic zone to vest in the Union

Part XII — FINANCE, PROPERTY, CONTRACTS AND SUITS — CHAPTER III.—PROPERTY, CONTRACTS, RIGHTS, LIABILITIES,

Constitutional

Summary

Anything valuable found under the ocean within India’s territorial waters, continental shelf, or exclusive economic zone—such as land, minerals, and other resources—belongs to the Union government and is held for its purposes. All other resources within India’s exclusive economic zone also belong to the Union government and are held for its purposes. The exact boundaries of these maritime zones will be set from time to time by a law made by Parliament or under such a law.

Official Text

(1) All lands, minerals and other things of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters, or the continental shelf, or the exclusive economic zone, of India shall vest in the Union and be held for the purposes of the Union.

(2) All other resources of the exclusive economic zone of India shall also vest in the Union and be held for the purposes of the Union.

(3) The limits of the territorial waters, the continental shelf, the exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones, of India shall be such as may be specified, from time to time, by or under any law made by Parliament.