International Relations

Bihar Demands Non-Renewal of 1996 Farakka Water Sharing Treaty With Bangladesh

25 August 2026UPSCSSC

In Brief

Urges the Centre to scrap or revise the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh ahead of its 2026 expiry.

The Bihar government and regional political leadership have formally urged the Union Government not to renew the historic Farakka Ganga Water Sharing Treaty with Bangladesh in its current form. The demand comes as the 30-year bilateral river agreement approaches its scheduled expiration, prompting renewed debate over transboundary water management and regional flood control in Eastern India.

Signed in December 1996 by Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the treaty governs the sharing of Ganga waters at the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal. Bihar contends that the barrage has caused heavy siltation upstream, drastically reducing river discharge capacity and triggering recurring severe flooding across northern districts.

The 1996 treaty features a 30-year validity clause expiring in December 2026. Under the agreement, water allocation is calculated using 40-year historical flow data measured at Farakka during the dry season from January 1 to May 31. The pact guarantees specific water allocations to Bangladesh while ensuring operational flows to flush the Kolkata Port.

River treaty renewals represent critical international relations and domestic federal governance challenges. In UPSC Prelims, questions test knowledge of transboundary river treaties, Farakka Barrage hydrology, and Ganga basin geography. In Mains, this issue provides a practical case study on how state-level federal concerns influence India's neighborhood diplomacy under the 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

UPSC Study NotesHIGHGS2 — International Relations & Bilateral Diplomacy

GS2 — International Relations & Bilateral Diplomacy

📌 Exam Angle

Prelims may ask: Which river treaty expires in 2026 and involves water sharing between India and Bangladesh? Mains Essay/Answer: Analyze how transboundary river agreements balance national water security with neighborhood diplomacy, using Farakka Treaty as case study. Expect questions on federalism dimension—how state demands shape India's international commitments.

⚠️ Key Concerns

Farakka Barrage has caused upstream siltation in Bihar, reducing discharge capacity and worsening floods—yet the 1996 treaty prioritizes Bangladesh water allocation and Kolkata Port flushing. This creates tension between Bihar's flood management needs and India's bilateral obligations. The 30-year clause expiring in 2026 presents a critical negotiation window where domestic pressure may conflict with neighborhood-first diplomacy.

💡 Why It Matters

River treaty renewals test India's ability to balance interstate federalism (Bihar's concerns) with international commitments (Bangladesh relations). This shapes India's credibility on transboundary water management in a region vulnerable to climate-induced water stress.

🔑 Must Remember

• Farakka Treaty signed December 1996; expires December 2026 (30-year validity) • Water allocation based on 40-year historical dry-season flow data (January-May) • Barrage causes upstream siltation, flooding in Bihar despite guaranteeing Bangladesh allocations

📝 Key Terms

Farakka Barragetransboundary water sharingGanga River treatybilateral diplomacysiltationNeighbourhood First policyinterstate federalismriver basin management

Bihar Demands Non-Renewal of 1996 Farakka Water Sharing Treaty With Bangladesh

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