AN ANALYSIS OF MARITIME LEGAL FRAMEWORKS RELATING TO OIL SPILL IN THE CONTEMPORARY OCEANS

India's geographical centrality in the Indian Ocean and its peninsular structure with a long coastline and island territories has given it enormous opportunities. Maritime security challenges include traditional and non-traditional threats, such as oil or chemical spills, which can severely damage the marine habitat and coastal ecosystem. Oil is essential for the economic development of a country, and about 50% of the earth's fossils oil is shipped through Indian waters. An oil spill can cause widespread environmental damage and hamper or impair the area's commercial marine operations. India must develop an effective response strategy and liability regime for the fossils oil accidents at sea.