New York, June 19 -- India's candidate, Professor Bimal N Patel, has been elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in New York, serving for the 2026-2035 term, the Permanent Mission of India at New York said on Friday.

External Affairs S Jaishankar extended his congratulations to Patel on the election.

"Congratulations Dr. Bimal Patel! Sincerely thank UNCLOS member states for their support," he said in a statement on X.

Patel will take office on October 1 this year in the tribunal, which acts as a specialised global court ensuring the peaceful, legal regulation of the world's oceans, its uses, and its resources.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed Patel's election as a "significant milestone....