India’s Bimal Patel elected judge of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

June 19, 2026 11:12 AM

India’s Bimal Patel elected judge of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

India has secured continued representation at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) with the election of noted jurist Bimal N. Patel as a judge of the Hamburg-based tribunal for the 2026-2035 term. Patel was elected during the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from June 15 to June 19. He will assume office on October 1, 2026, succeeding India's current representa...

India to sign, ratify High Seas Treaty on marine conservation

July 9, 2024 10:48 AM

India to sign, ratify High Seas Treaty on marine conservation

India has decided to sign and ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. This international treaty, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), aims to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas through international cooperation. Also known as the 'High Seas Treaty,' the BBNJ Agreement ensures that no country can claim sovereign rights over marine resources in the high seas - areas open to all for activities such as navigation, overflight, a...