The correct option is 12 nautical miles.
Explanation
Maritime boundaries are measured from a baseline, which generally follows the low-water line along the coast. These zones are defined internationally by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and domestically by the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976.
Analysis of Maritime Zones
- Territorial Waters (12 Nautical Miles): India's territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from the appropriate baseline. Within this zone, India exercises complete sovereignty over the water, the seabed, the subsoil, and the airspace above it, similar to its land territory.
- Contiguous Zone (24 Nautical Miles): This zone extends beyond the territorial waters up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline. In this area, India has limited rights to enforce laws regarding customs, fiscal, immigration, and sanitary matters.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): This extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, where India has sovereign rights for the exploration and exploitation of marine resources.
Key Takeaway: The limit of India's territorial waters, where it holds absolute sovereignty, is fixed at 12 nautical miles from the coastal baseline.