How might the provisions in Article 297 impact India's ability to exploit its natural resources for economic development and growth?
The provisions in Article 297 might impact India's ability to exploit its natural resources for economic development and growth by ensuring that all lands, minerals, and other things of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters, or the continental shelf, or the exclusive economic zone vest in the Union. This gives the Union government significant control over the exploration and use of these resources, which could potentially limit the autonomy of individual states to exploit their local natural resources for development purposes. Additionally, the limits of maritime zones are determined by law made by Parliament, further centralizing control over these valuable assets.