India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty renewal faces concerns from Bihar
Worth reading — 1 past UPSC question on this theme (Mains GS-1 2016).
2-minute summary
The 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty, which is set to expire on December 31, 2026, has faced domestic opposition from Bihar. Sanjay Jha, JD(U) national working president and former Bihar Water Resources Minister, stated that the treaty's terms have negatively impacted Bihar's interests over the last 30 years. He urged the Union government to prioritize state-level concerns alongside international diplomacy during renewal talks. This domestic friction coincides with a complex political landscape in Bangladesh, following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in 2024 and the subsequent election of a BNP-led government under Tarique Rahman. Although a Bangladeshi technical delegation visited the Farakka Barrage in May 2026 under the Joint Rivers Commission, formal bilateral negotiations remain delicate. The situation highlights the federal challenges in India's transboundary water diplomacy, where upstream states bear the ecological and hydrological costs of international water-sharing arrangements.
Why it's in the news
Ahead of the expiration of the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty on December 31, 2026, JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha has raised concerns that the treaty has negatively impacted Bihar's interests. This highlights the federal challenges in transboundary water sharing amidst evolving bilateral relations with Bangladesh's new government.
Background and context
The Ganga Water Treaty was signed on December 12, 1996, by Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a 30-year period. It establishes a formula for sharing the waters of the Ganga River at the Farakka Barrage during the lean season (January to May). While aimed at ensuring sufficient water flow to Bangladesh and maintaining the navigability of the Kolkata Port, the treaty has faced criticism within India, particularly from Bihar. Upstream states argue that the Farakka Barrage causes heavy siltation, leading to severe annual flooding and riverbank erosion in Bihar. The political landscape in Bangladesh changed dramatically after the August 2024 uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina, leading to an interim administration and the subsequent election of Tarique Rahman's government. As the treaty approaches its December 2026 expiration, domestic federal concerns in India and political transitions in Bangladesh present significant hurdles to its seamless renewal.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 253 — Empowers Parliament to make laws for the whole or any part of India for implementing any treaty, agreement, or convention with any other country, overriding state-list subjects if necessary.
- Article 262 — Provides for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys.
- Seventh Schedule (List I, Entry 56) — Grants the Union government power over the regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys.
- Seventh Schedule (List II, Entry 17) — Grants State governments control over water supplies, irrigation, canals, drainage, embankments, water storage, and water power, subject to Entry 56 of List I.
Government schemes
- Namami Gange Programme — An Integrated Conservation Mission to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga.
International organisations
- India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) — Established in 1972 to facilitate cooperation in maximizing benefits from common river systems and conducting technical evaluations of water-sharing arrangements.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Mains GS-1 2016 — Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.
Mains practice: Evaluate the impact of federal dynamics on India's transboundary water diplomacy, specifically in the context of the impending renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty.
Introduction
India’s transboundary water diplomacy is deeply intertwined with its federal structure. As the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty nears its expiration in December 2026, domestic concerns raised by riparian states like Bihar highlight the friction between central foreign policy objectives and state-level ecological and economic interests.
Federal Challenges in Transboundary Water Sharing
• Centralized Treaty-Making vs. State Impacts: Under Article 253 of the Constitution, the Union government holds exclusive power to sign international treaties. However, the physical consequences of water diversion—such as siltation, flooding, and reduced lean-season flows—are directly borne by states like Bihar and West Bengal.
• Siltation and Flooding in Bihar: Leaders from Bihar argue that the Farakka Barrage has caused massive silt accumulation upstream. This raises the riverbed of the Ganga, leading to severe annual floods, waterlogging, and loss of fertile agricultural land in the state.
• Paradiplomacy and State Consent: Historically, state governments have influenced foreign policy (e.g., West Bengal's opposition to the Teesta water-sharing agreement). Ignoring state concerns during the Ganga Treaty renewal could lead to domestic political backlash and non-cooperation in implementing treaty provisions.
Way Forward
• Cooperative Federalism: The Union government must institutionalize a consultative mechanism involving Bihar and West Bengal before finalizing the renewal terms.
• Joint Sediment Management: Future treaty frameworks should incorporate modern ecological solutions, such as joint dredging and sediment management, to mitigate upstream flooding.
• Basin-wide Approach: Transitioning from a volumetric water-sharing model to an integrated river basin management approach will ensure ecological sustainability for both nations.
Conclusion
For sustainable transboundary water diplomacy, India must balance its neighborhood-first foreign policy with cooperative federalism. Addressing Bihar's ecological grievances is essential to securing a stable, long-term water agreement with Bangladesh.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. With reference to the India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty of 1996, consider the following statements: 1. The treaty was signed for a period of 30 years and is set to expire in December 2026. 2. It regulates the sharing of water specifically at the Farakka Barrage during the lean season. 3. The treaty was signed during the prime ministership of Narendra Modi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct as the treaty was signed on December 12, 1996, for 30 years, expiring in December 2026. Statement 2 is correct as it shares water at the Farakka Barrage during the lean season (January-May). Statement 3 is incorrect as it was signed under Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina.
Q2. Which of the following constitutional provisions empowers the Parliament of India to enact laws to implement international treaties, even if the subject falls under the State List?
- Article 253
- Article 252
- Article 249
- Article 250
Answer: A. Article 253 of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to make laws for the whole or any part of India to implement any treaty, agreement, or convention with any other country.
Q3. The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) is a bilateral decision-making body established to manage common river systems between India and which of the following countries?
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- China
Answer: C. The India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) was established in 1972 to ensure the most effective joint efforts in maximizing benefits from common river systems.
Revision flashcards
- When was the India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty signed and what is its duration? Signed on December 12, 1996, for a duration of 30 years (expiring on December 31, 2026).
- At which specific location does the Ganga Water Treaty regulate water sharing? The Farakka Barrage, located in West Bengal, India.
- What is the primary ecological concern raised by Bihar regarding the Farakka Barrage? Heavy siltation upstream, which raises the riverbed and causes severe annual flooding and waterlogging in Bihar.
- Which bilateral body, established in 1972, facilitates water cooperation between India and Bangladesh? The India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC).
- Which constitutional article gives Parliament the power to legislate on State List subjects to implement international treaties? Article 253 of the Constitution of India.