Which of the following statements are correct with regard to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ? 1. UNCLOS authorizes the UN Security Council to take a direct action in case of the disputes between States on sovereign rights over Exclusive Economic Zones 2. UNCLOS defines contiguous zones and specifies its functions 3. Both the US and India have ratified UNCLOS 4. UNCLOS grants certain rights to Landlocked States Select the answer using the code given below : (a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 3 and 4

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines the contiguous zone and its specific functions, such as preventing and punishing infringement of customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws. It also grants specific rights to landlocked states, including the right of access to and from the sea and freedom of transit. Regarding statement 1, UNCLOS establishes its own dispute settlement mechanism under Part XV, including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and arbitration, rather than authorizing direct UN Security Council action for EEZ sovereign rights disputes [1]. Statement 3 is incorrect because while India ratified UNCLOS in 1995, the United States has not ratified the convention, although it generally follows its provisions as customary international law. Therefore, only statements 2 and 4 are correct.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R47744