Ganga Water Treaty is ‘flawed’, needs to be updated: Bangladesh river expert

International Relations · 7 October 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

2-minute summary

The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty (GWT) between India and Bangladesh is set to expire in December 2026. Ahead of its expiry, Manjur A. Chowdhury, former Chairman of the National River Conservation Commission of Bangladesh, has termed the treaty 'flawed' due to several structural omissions. Key criticisms include the absence of a minimum water flow guarantee clause, the lack of an arbitration mechanism, and the failure to account for ecological flows and climate change impacts. Chowdhury suggests replacing the expiring treaty with a short-term three-year agreement to allow for scientific research, followed by a comprehensive trilateral treaty including Nepal. This is because Nepal's rivers (Ghaghara, Gandaki, and Koshi) supply crucial snowmelt to the Ganga during lean months. While India has initiated inter-ministerial consultations led by the Jal Shakti Ministry, domestic concerns have also emerged, with political leaders in Bihar arguing that the treaty has negatively impacted the state.

Why it's in the news

The 30-year bilateral Ganga Water Treaty, signed in 1996, is set to expire in December 2026. Discussions on its renewal or modification have intensified, with experts calling for a transition from a bilateral volumetric division to a trilateral, ecologically sustainable framework.

Facts to remember

The Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996 for a fixed duration of 30 years and is scheduled to expire in December 2026.
The treaty regulates the sharing of the Ganga's waters at the Farakka Barrage, located in West Bengal, India.
The India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) was established in 1972 to facilitate cooperation on common transboundary rivers.
Major tributaries of the Ganga originating in Nepal—the Ghaghara, Gandaki, and Koshi—provide critical snowmelt that feeds the river during the lean season.
The 1996 treaty lacks both a minimum flow guarantee clause for dry seasons and a formal, binding international arbitration clause.

Background and context

The dispute over the sharing of Ganga waters began with India's construction of the Farakka Barrage in 1975, designed to divert water into the Hooghly River to flush out silt and keep the Kolkata Port operational. Bangladesh (then East Pakistan, and later independent Bangladesh) argued that this diversion severely reduced its dry-season water supply, leading to agricultural distress, salinity intrusion in the Sundarbans, and ecological degradation in its southwest region. After decades of temporary agreements, the landmark 30-year Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996 by Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It established a formula for sharing water during the lean season (January 1 to May 31). However, as the treaty nears its December 2026 expiry, the geopolitical and environmental landscape has shifted, with climate change, glacier depletion, and ecological flow requirements demanding a modern, basin-wide approach to hydro-diplomacy.

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.
Article 262 — Provides for the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys, which indirectly impacts how India manages transboundary rivers internally before water reaches neighboring countries.

Committees and reports

National Water Policy — Advocates for maintaining ecological flows in rivers and emphasizes international cooperation on transboundary river basins.
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources Report on Flood Management — Recommended renegotiating water treaties with neighboring countries to address the emerging challenges of climate change and fluctuating river flows.

Government schemes

Namami Gange Programme — An Integrated Conservation Mission aimed at the abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga, which directly impacts the quality and quantity of water flowing downstream to Bangladesh.

International organisations

India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) — A bilateral body constituted to maintain liaison between the two countries to ensure the most effective joint efforts in maximizing the benefits from common river systems.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

Prelims GS-1 2017 — With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: 1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim. 2. River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta. 3. River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains practice: The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh, while a landmark in hydro-diplomacy, faces modern ecological and structural challenges. Analyze the shortcomings of the treaty in the context of climate change and discuss the feasibility of transitioning to a multilateral, basin-wide approach.

The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty (GWT) was a historic milestone in South Asian hydro-diplomacy, establishing a 30-year framework for sharing water at the Farakka Barrage. However, as it approaches its expiry in December 2026, the treaty requires urgent modernization to address contemporary ecological realities.

• **Shortcomings of the 1996 Treaty:**

- *Lack of Guarantee Clause:* The treaty lacks a minimum flow guarantee during extreme lean seasons, leaving Bangladesh vulnerable to severe water scarcity in the Padma basin when river levels drop.

- *Ecological Flow (E-flow) Omission:* It focuses purely on volumetric division of water rather than maintaining the river's ecological health, accelerating biodiversity loss in the Sundarbans delta.

- *Climate Change Blindspot:* Drafted three decades ago, the treaty does not account for shifting precipitation patterns, glacial retreat in the Himalayas, or rising sea levels.

- *Absence of Arbitration:* The treaty lacks a formal, binding dispute resolution mechanism, relying instead on the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) which can stall during political transitions.

• **Feasibility of a Multilateral, Basin-Wide Approach:**

- *Hydrological Necessity:* Over 70% of the Ganga's lean-season flow is fed by Nepalese tributaries like the Koshi, Gandaki, and Ghaghara. A trilateral framework involving Nepal is scientifically essential for holistic basin management.

- *Geopolitical Hurdles:* India has traditionally preferred bilateralism to prevent third-party mediation. Furthermore, domestic political sensitivities in Nepal over water sharing complicate multilateral negotiations.

**Way Forward:**

India and Bangladesh should adopt a short-term interim renewal (e.g., three years) to conduct joint scientific assessments. Future negotiations must incorporate 'Environmental Flow' mandates as recommended by India's National Water Policy 2012. Ultimately, establishing a joint sub-basin management committee with Nepal will pave the way for sustainable, climate-resilient water governance, aligning with SDG 6.5 on integrated water resources management.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the transboundary water cooperation between India and Bangladesh: 1. The Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996 for a 30-year period to regulate water sharing at the Farakka Barrage. 2. The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) is a bilateral body established in 1972 to manage common rivers between India and Bangladesh. 3. Major tributaries of the Ganga that originate in Nepal, such as the Koshi, Gandaki, and Ghaghara, contribute significantly to its lean-season flow. How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Answer: C. Statement 1 is correct: The Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996 for a 30-year period and expires in December 2026. Statement 2 is correct: The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) was established in 1972 to facilitate bilateral water cooperation. Statement 3 is correct: Rivers like the Koshi, Gandaki, and Ghaghara originate in Nepal and provide crucial snowmelt to the Ganga during lean months.

Q2. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Bangladesh has raised concerns over the lack of a guarantee clause in the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty during lean-season flows. Statement-II: The 1996 Treaty divides water based on a fixed volumetric formula at the Farakka Barrage rather than incorporating dynamic ecological flows or climate-resilient guarantees. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: A. Both statements are correct. Statement-I highlights Bangladesh's concern regarding the lack of a minimum flow guarantee. Statement-II explains the reason behind this concern, which is that the treaty relies on a rigid volumetric division at Farakka rather than dynamic, climate-resilient ecological flow calculations.

Q3. What was the primary technical objective of the Farakka Barrage when it was commissioned by India in 1975?

To provide intensive canal irrigation to the drought-prone agricultural districts of South Bihar
To act as a major flood control reservoir for the lower deltaic regions of West Bengal
To divert water into the Hooghly River to flush out silt and keep Kolkata Port operational
To generate high-capacity hydroelectric power for the eastern regional grid of India

Answer: C. The primary purpose of the Farakka Barrage was to divert water from the Ganga into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system to flush out accumulated silt, thereby keeping the Kolkata Port navigable.

Revision flashcards

In which year was the bilateral Ganga Water Treaty signed between India and Bangladesh, and what is its total duration? It was signed in 1996 for a duration of 30 years, setting it to expire in December 2026.
Which bilateral institutional mechanism was established in 1972 to manage water resources of common rivers between India and Bangladesh? The India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC).
Why did Bangladesh river experts in October 2026 call for a short-term three-year treaty instead of a direct 30-year renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty? To allow time for scientific research and negotiations to incorporate ecological flows, climate change impacts, and potentially transition to a trilateral treaty including Nepal.
Which specific infrastructure project in Bangladeshi territory was discussed in 1996 as a quid pro quo for omitting an arbitration clause in the Ganga Water Treaty? A barrage for the Padma (Ganga) River in Bangladeshi territory, which ultimately was not built.
Why is a purely bilateral approach to the Ganga Water Treaty considered hydrologically incomplete by river experts? Because the Ganga receives a significant portion of its lean-season flow from Himalayan snowmelt via Nepal's rivers (Koshi, Gandaki, Ghaghara), requiring upstream trilateral monitoring.