🧾 Article 297 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Things of value within territorial waters or continental shelf and resources of the exclusive economic zone to vest in the Union
🔍 Explanation:
Article 297 declares that all valuable things located in the following areas belong to the Union Government:
-
Territorial waters
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Continental shelf
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Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
This includes:
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Mineral resources (like oil, gas, metals)
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Marine wealth (like fisheries)
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Sub-soil assets under the sea
📘 Key Provisions of Article 297:
| Zone / Area | Ownership | Examples of Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Territorial Waters (up to 12 nautical miles) | Union Government | Fish, pearls, oil, gas, salt |
| Continental Shelf | Union Government | Subsoil minerals, hydrocarbons |
| Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (up to 200 nautical miles) | Union Government | Fisheries, marine life, offshore energy |
🏛️ Even though these zones may lie adjacent to a State’s coastline, the ownership remains with the Union.
📊 Summary Chart: Article 297
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Article | 297 |
| Vesting Authority | Union Government |
| Applies To | Territorial waters, continental shelf, EEZ |
| What Vests in Union? | All valuable things like minerals, resources, marine wealth |
| State Role? | ❌ States have no ownership even if zone is near their land |
| Purpose | Maintain centralized control over strategic and natural resources |
🧠 Why Article 297 is Important:
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Ensures national control over strategic offshore resources
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Supports India’s energy security, maritime law, and foreign policy
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Prevents State-level disputes over ocean-based resources
Here is a combined comparison chart of Articles 294 to 297 of the Indian Constitution.
These articles define how property, liabilities, and valuable natural resources are distributed between the Union and the States — ensuring legal clarity post-independence and centralized control over strategic assets.
📊 Combined Chart: Articles 294 to 297 – Property, Succession & Resource Ownership
| Article | Title | Focus Area | Transferred From / Located In | Vested In | Purpose / Key Provision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 294 | Succession in certain cases | British India property & liabilities | Dominion of India & provinces (pre-1950) | Union or State Government | Transfers all assets, rights, liabilities from British India to Union/States |
| 295 | Succession in other cases | Princely states’ properties & debts | Former princely states (Part B States) | Union or State Government | Transfers property, rights, liabilities from princely states to Indian government |
| 296 | Escheat, lapse, bona vacantia | Ownerless or heirless property | Intestate deaths, abandoned land, etc. | Union or State Government | Unclaimed or heirless property passes to State or Union based on jurisdiction |
| 297 | Valuable things in territorial waters, EEZ, continental shelf | Offshore natural resources | India's sea territory (beyond land borders) | Union Government only | All minerals, oil, gas, marine wealth in India's waters belong exclusively to Union |
🧠 Key Themes Across Articles 294–297
| Theme | Covered In | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Post-independence property transfer | Articles 294 & 295 | Assets and liabilities legally passed to Union/State from British/princely rule |
| Unclaimed public wealth | Article 296 | Ownerless or heirless assets vest in government |
| Offshore resource control | Article 297 | Union owns all sea-based and ocean-floor resources near Indian territory |
🔁 Visual Overview:
[ Article 294 ] → From British India → Union/States
[ Article 295 ] → From Princely States → Union/States
[ Article 296 ] → Ownerless assets (land, money) → Union/State
[ Article 297 ] → Sea/ocean resources → Union ONLY
⚖️ Union vs State Ownership Snapshot
| Ownership Type | Vests in Union | Vests in State |
|---|---|---|
| British-era national property | ✅ Article 294 | ✅ Article 294 |
| Princely state assets | ✅ Article 295 | ✅ Article 295 |
| Ownerless assets | ✅ Article 296 (if applicable) | ✅ Article 296 (if applicable) |
| Offshore resources | ✅ Only Union (Article 297) | ❌ States have no claim |
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