UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Formulate rules for fishing vessel transit to EEZ, SC directs T.N.

Q1. Under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, which one of the following correctly describes the outer limit of India's contiguous zone?

  • A. A line every point of which is at a distance of twenty-four nautical miles from the nearest point of the appropriate baseline
  • B. A line every point of which is at a distance of twenty-four nautical miles from the nearest point of the outer limit of the territorial waters
  • C. A line every point of which is at a distance of two hundred nautical miles from the nearest point of the appropriate baseline
  • D. A line every point of which is at a distance of twelve nautical miles from the nearest point of the low-water line along the coast

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding maritime zones under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and India's Maritime Zones Act, 1976: 1. In the contiguous zone the coastal State may exercise the control necessary to prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations. 2. The exclusive economic zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. 3. The continental shelf of a coastal State may extend up to the outer edge of the continental margin even where that edge lies beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines. 4. The limit of India's contiguous zone may be altered by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette without any approval by Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the contiguous zone the coastal State may exercise the control necessary to prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations.
  2. The exclusive economic zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
  3. The continental shelf of a coastal State may extend up to the outer edge of the continental margin even where that edge lies beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines.
  4. The limit of India's contiguous zone may be altered by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette without any approval by Parliament.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q3. In the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the subject 'Fisheries' — under which coastal States regulate fishing within territorial waters — is placed at which one of the following entry numbers of the State List?

  • A. Entry 17
  • B. Entry 21
  • C. Entry 32
  • D. Entry 57

Q4. Consider the following statements about the regulatory regime for fishing beyond the territorial waters of the coastal States: 1. The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 were notified under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976. 2. These Rules give priority to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations for undertaking deep-sea fishing operations. 3. These Rules permit LED light fishing and pair trawling in the exclusive economic zone subject to vessel-tracking conditions. 4. An enabling framework for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the exclusive economic zone and the high seas, with special focus on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025 were notified under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
  2. These Rules give priority to Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations for undertaking deep-sea fishing operations.
  3. These Rules permit LED light fishing and pair trawling in the exclusive economic zone subject to vessel-tracking conditions.
  4. An enabling framework for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in the exclusive economic zone and the high seas, with special focus on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the Supreme Court's earlier and latest orders on purse seine fishing off Tamil Nadu: 1. In February 2023 the Court had allowed purse seine fishing beyond Tamil Nadu's territorial waters on a conditional basis, limited to two days a week and subject to vessel tracking. 2. The order of September 2026 directs Tamil Nadu to frame rules for a 'specified channel' under Rules 15(5) and 15(6) of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020. 3. The 2026 order lifts the prohibition on purse seine fishing within Tamil Nadu's territorial waters contained in Rule 17(7) of the 2020 Rules. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In February 2023 the Court had allowed purse seine fishing beyond Tamil Nadu's territorial waters on a conditional basis, limited to two days a week and subject to vessel tracking.
  2. The order of September 2026 directs Tamil Nadu to frame rules for a 'specified channel' under Rules 15(5) and 15(6) of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020.
  3. The 2026 order lifts the prohibition on purse seine fishing within Tamil Nadu's territorial waters contained in Rule 17(7) of the 2020 Rules.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. In directing Tamil Nadu to create a 'specified channel' for purse seine vessels transiting to the exclusive economic zone, the Supreme Court rested its direction principally on which one of the following?

  • A. Rules 15(5) and 15(6) of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020, which provide for specified channels for the transit of fishing vessels
  • B. Rule 17(7) of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020, which imposes a permanent ban on all mechanised fishing in the State's waters
  • C. The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone Rules, 2025, which vest exclusive authority over transit corridors in the Central Government
  • D. Entry 21 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule, which confers on coastal States exclusive jurisdiction over fisheries in all Indian waters

Q7. Consider the following statements on the regulation of purse seine fishing in and off Tamil Nadu: 1. Tamil Nadu has prohibited purse seine fishing within its territorial waters since 2000, and the prohibition was carried into Rule 17(7) of its Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020. 2. The Central Rules of 2025 on sustainable harnessing of fisheries impose a total ban on purse seine fishing throughout India's exclusive economic zone. 3. Under the arrangement permitted by the Supreme Court in February 2023, purse seine fishing beyond Tamil Nadu's territorial waters was allowed only on Mondays and Thursdays. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Tamil Nadu has prohibited purse seine fishing within its territorial waters since 2000, and the prohibition was carried into Rule 17(7) of its Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020.
  2. The Central Rules of 2025 on sustainable harnessing of fisheries impose a total ban on purse seine fishing throughout India's exclusive economic zone.
  3. Under the arrangement permitted by the Supreme Court in February 2023, purse seine fishing beyond Tamil Nadu's territorial waters was allowed only on Mondays and Thursdays.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Fishers seeking to operate beyond the territorial waters, in India's exclusive economic zone (12 to 200 nautical miles), require an Access Pass. This pass is issued by which one of the following?

  • A. The Coastal Aquaculture Authority under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
  • B. The Department of Fisheries, through the ReALCraft portal
  • C. The Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. The Indian Coast Guard, the maritime law enforcement agency under the Ministry of Defence

Q9. Consider the following statements about cooperative and competitive federalism as understood in Indian practice: 1. Cooperative federalism is pursued by bringing the States together as 'Team India' through structured and continuous engagement, on the premise that strong States make a strong nation. 2. Competitive federalism is promoted by encouraging healthy competition among States and Union Territories through transparent rankings on indices such as the SDG India Index and the Composite Water Management Index. 3. Cooperative federalism requires that in every case of conflict between a State's fishing rules and Central rules for the exclusive economic zone, the State rules must be struck down as void. 4. Cooperative federalism initiatives are confined exclusively to meetings of the Governing Council and exclude sub-groups of Chief Ministers and the sharing of best practices among States. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Cooperative federalism is pursued by bringing the States together as 'Team India' through structured and continuous engagement, on the premise that strong States make a strong nation.
  2. Competitive federalism is promoted by encouraging healthy competition among States and Union Territories through transparent rankings on indices such as the SDG India Index and the Composite Water Management Index.
  3. Cooperative federalism requires that in every case of conflict between a State's fishing rules and Central rules for the exclusive economic zone, the State rules must be struck down as void.
  4. Cooperative federalism initiatives are confined exclusively to meetings of the Governing Council and exclude sub-groups of Chief Ministers and the sharing of best practices among States.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q10. Which one of the following best captures what is meant by 'cooperative federalism' in Indian governance practice?

  • A. The Centre and the States functioning as a team through continuous, structured engagement mechanisms, on the premise that strong States make a strong nation
  • B. Healthy competition among States and Union Territories, encouraged through transparent sectoral rankings coupled with a hand-holding approach
  • C. The transfer of subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List so that Parliament and State legislatures may legislate jointly on them
  • D. A framework in which registered cooperative societies are made the principal delivery agents for Centrally Sponsored Schemes in the States

Q11. Marine Fishing Regulation Acts, enacted on the basis of a model bill circulated by the Union Government in 1979, govern fishing within the territorial waters of India's maritime States and Union Territories. How many such coastal States and Union Territories does India have?

  • A. 9
  • B. 11
  • C. 13
  • D. 15

Q12. Purse seine nets, which encircle a shoal and are then closed at the bottom by drawing in a purse line, are used almost exclusively to catch which one of the following categories of fish?

  • A. Pelagic shoaling fish such as sardines, mackerels and tunas
  • B. Demersal bottom-dwelling fish such as soles and threadfin breams
  • C. Benthic shellfish such as crabs, lobsters and clams
  • D. Anadromous fish ascending rivers from the sea to spawn