According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), maritime zones measured from the territorial baseline extend progressively seaward as follows:

• Territorial Sea / Waters (C): Up to $12\text{ nautical miles}$ ($NM$).
• Contiguous Zone (B): Extends from $12\text{ NM}$ up to $24\text{ nautical miles}$.
• Exclusive Economic Zone / EEZ (D): Extends from the baseline up to $200\text{ nautical miles}$.
• High Seas (A): The open ocean beyond national jurisdiction, extending beyond the $200\text{ NM}$ EEZ limit.

The picture depicts the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest extant fish species on Earth. It is instantly recognizable by its broad, flattened head, massive terminal mouth, prominent longitudinal ridges along the flank, and a striking checkerboard pattern of white spots and vertical stripes against a dark bluish-grey dorsal body.

Option analysis:

• Basking shark: Cetorhinus maximus, brownish-grey without white spots, possesses massive gill slits.
• Blue whale: Balaenoptera musculus, a marine mammal with a blowhole and horizontal fluke.
• Tiger shark: Galeocerdo cuvier, has dark vertical tiger stripes as juveniles, lacks white spots.
• Whale shark: Correct, Rhincodon typus with diagnostic white spotted checkerboard patterning.

According to Conservation International (based on the criteria established by Norman Myers in 1988), there are currently $36$ designated global Biodiversity Hotspots. To qualify, a region must contain at least $1,500$ species of vascular plants as endemics and have lost at least $70\%$ of its primary native vegetation. India encompasses four hotspots: Western Ghats, Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).

Option analysis:

• $32$: Historical intermediate count.
• $36$: Correct, current internationally recognized count of biodiversity hotspots.
• $24$: Earlier count (Myers et al., 2000 initially identified 25).
• $96$: Exaggerated figure.

Statement (I) is correct: Under UNCLOS Article 3, every coastal State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding $12\text{ nautical miles}$ ($NM$) measured from baselines. Statement (II) is incorrect: Under UNCLOS Article 33, the contiguous zone may not extend beyond $24\text{ nautical miles}$ measured from the territorial BASELINES (not from the outer edge of the territorial sea). Thus, measured from the outer edge of the territorial sea, the contiguous zone spans a breadth of only $12\text{ NM}$ ($12$ to $24\text{ NM}$ from baseline).

Option analysis:

• Both correct: Incorrect because Statement II is false.
• Both incorrect: Incorrect because Statement I is true.
• Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect: Correct assessment.
• Statement (I) is incorrect: Incorrect because Statement I is true.