The correct option is 2 and 3 only
Explanation
India's geographical extent includes both its mainland and island territories. Its maritime jurisdiction is governed by international standards, specifically regarding the units of measurement used for defining territorial waters off the coastline.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. India's territorial waters extend into the sea up to 12 nautical miles from the appropriate baseline along the coast, not statute miles. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), maritime zones are universally measured in nautical miles.
- Statement 2 is Correct. A nautical mile is a unit of measurement used in air and marine navigation, based on the circumference of the Earth. It is longer than a standard land (statute) mile.
- 1 Statute Mile ≈ 1.609 km.
- 1 Nautical Mile ≈ 1.852 km.
- Statement 3 is Correct. The southernmost point of the Indian mainland is Kanniyakumari at 8°4' N. However, the southernmost boundary of the Indian Union extends to Indira Point in the Great Nicobar Island (part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands group), which is located at approximately 6°45' N latitude.
Key Takeaway:
Territorial waters are measured in nautical miles (1 NM = 1.852 km), which are longer than statute miles. The southernmost limit of India's territory (Indira Point) lies at 6°45' N, further south than the mainland tip.