Key Developments
- India is considering shifting to the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) datum to define its shoreline, replacing the outdated Everest Ellipsoid system.
- Adopting WGS84 will lead to changes in India’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
- This could expand India’s maritime boundaries by a few meters to several hundred meters.
Impact on Maritime Borders
- India’s territorial waters (12 nautical miles) and EEZ (200 nautical miles) will be redefined.
- In Sir Mouth (part of Sir Creek), the baseline may shift by about 57 meters northwest.
- Changes could be more significant towards Bangladesh and slightly impact the Pakistan border.
Official Process & International Alignment
- 133 geographic coordinates will be revised and notified in a new gazette.
- The Ministry of External Affairs is working on aligning with global standards.
- In 2014, the Permanent Court of Arbitration used WGS84 to resolve the India-Bangladesh maritime dispute.
