Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022?

1. Parliament approved the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022 which was passed by Rajya Sabha in December 2022.

2. The Act enables Indian authorities to take action against piracy on the high seas.

3. It applies to the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone, which is beyond 500 nautical miles from India’s coastline.

4. The Act defines piracy as “any illegal act of violence, detention, or destruction committed against a ship, aircraft, person or property, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft”.

Solution

Let's analyze the statements regarding the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022 to determine which are true: 1. Parliament approved the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill, 2022 which was passed by Rajya Sabha in December 2022.     This statement is true. The bill was indeed passed by Rajya Sabha in December 2022 and subsequently approved by Parliament. 2. The Act enables Indian authorities to take action against piracy on the high seas.    - This statement is true. The Act gives Indian authorities the power to take action against acts of piracy on the high seas. 3. It applies to the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone, which is beyond 500 nautical miles from India’s coastline.    This statement is false. The Act applies to the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is beyond 200 nautical miles from India’s coastline, not 500 nautical miles. 4. The Act defines piracy as “any illegal act of violence, detention, or destruction committed against a ship, aircraft, person or property, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft”.    - This statement is true. The Act indeed defines piracy in this manner, aligning with international definitions of piracy.