Traditionally the Coastal States had been claiming few nautical miles into the sea. In accordance with the UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), now the States can establish 12 nautical miles of territorial sea and 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from baselines and there are no major technical difficulties in establishing the limits. The States are also entitled for the rights over the continental shelf, slope and rise extending beyond the EEZ. The continental shelf comprises the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond the territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of the land territory. The continental shelf is rich in non-living resources and the minerals, including hydrocarbon resources.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that where the coastal state intends to establish the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, it shall submit particulars of such limits to the Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS), along with the supporting scientific and technical data as soon as possible, but in any case within 10 years of entry into force of the Convention for that State. The Convention came into force on 16.11.1994 and India ratified the same in June 1995. India thus must submit all the necessary data to the CLCS by June 2005. If delineation is done properly India would be in a position to claim more than 1 million sq.km beyond the EEZ. India is represented as an elected member on the Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS).

A comprehensive programme for Delineation of Outer Limits of Continental Shelf is devised based on the scientific and technical guidelines of the Commission of May 1999, adopted by the Commission.

It is expected that the entire work would be completed by December 2000. Several organizations such as Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Geological Survey of India and National Geophysical Research Institute are expected to participate in this national endeavour. National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa is executing the programme on behalf of Department of Ocean Development.