Home The Constitution Part XII Article 297

Art. 297 Part XII: Finance, Property, Contracts and Suits

Things of Value Within Territorial Waters or Continental Shelf and Resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone to Vest in the Union

Exact text — Constitution of India

(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.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article vests India's offshore natural resources — minerals, oil, and other valuable materials underlying territorial waters, the continental shelf, and the Exclusive Economic Zone (extending significantly further out to sea) — exclusively in the Union, not in any coastal state, regardless of which state's coastline is nearest.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why offshore oil, gas, and mineral exploration and extraction rights in Indian waters belong to the central government, not the neighbouring coastal state — a deliberate centralisation of valuable maritime resource rights, even though the adjacent state might otherwise seem the more 'natural' owner given geographic proximity.

Read alongside this one

Art. environmental-rights — Environmental Rights

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 297

Does a coastal state have any claim to offshore oil/gas revenue found near its coastline?

Not as an ownership matter under this Article — the resources belong to the Union; states may receive some benefit through specific revenue-sharing or royalty arrangements Parliament chooses to establish, but the underlying constitutional ownership sits with the Union.

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The text above reproduces Article 297 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.