Revision summary
The 1996 Ganga Treaty is the working model of dry-season sharing. The Joint Rivers Commission is the institutional means. Teesta remains the political missing piece. Flood data, Brahmaputra transparency, and inland navigation are the next hardware steps. Indian federal politics is as decisive as diplomacy with Dhaka.
Model answer
Introduction
India and Bangladesh share the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna basin. Hydro-cooperation is water-sharing, navigation, power, and flood data. Treaties exist. Teesta and some upstream projects still wait.
Body
What is already in place
- The 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty at Farakka set a dry-season formula for thirty years and a Joint Committee.
- The Joint Rivers Commission, from the 1970s, is the standing bilateral body for fifty-plus shared rivers.
- Power trade, the Sundarbans, and inland protocol routes show that water is also electricity and cargo, not only a barrage dispute.
Steps still required
- Conclude a Teesta arrangement that West Bengal’s politics can live with, or a creative package of storage, canals, and seasonal guarantees.
- Share flood and monsoon data in real time; climate extremes make last-minute warning a humanitarian step.
- Joint basin planning on the Brahmaputra and Barak, including transparent talk on Tipaimukh-type projects, to cut Dhaka’s fear of upstream control.
- Navigation protocols, dredging, and last-mile inland ports so Bangladesh gains transit value, not only water volume.
- Sub-regional hooks: BBIN and BIMSTEC energy so Bhutanese hydropower and Indian grids include Bangladesh as a paying partner.
- Domestic federal coordination in India, because water is a State subject in practice at the political bottleneck.
Spirit
- Hydro-cooperation needs Panchsheel-style non-harm plus engineering. A treaty without federal buy-in will not flow.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD G[Ganga Treaty 1996] --> J[Joint Rivers Commission] T[Teesta deal] --> H[Hydro-cooperation] D[Data navigation power] --> H J --> H
Conclusion
India–Bangladesh hydro-cooperation needs a Teesta settlement, live flood data, joint basin planning, navigation and power links, and Indian federal consensus. The 1996 Ganga Treaty is the template. Completing the unfinished rivers is the step that still defines the relationship.
Quick related
Students also ask
-
What are the implications of 'Look-East' Policy on the north-eastern region of India?
Next question on this syllabus topic (2022 · Q7(b)). View answer →
-
Is the Ganga Treaty enough?
It settled Farakka’s worst political fight. Dozens of other rivers, especially Teesta, still need instruments.
-
Does hydropower equal hydro-cooperation?
Power trade helps. Sharing seasonal flow and flood warning is the core of river cooperation.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
-
2024 · Q6(b) · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks
Does the idea of the 21st century as 'Asian century' continue to remain feasible given the growing friction between India and China? -
2023 · Q5(b) · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks
What are the reasons for lack of 'regionness' in South Asia? -
2023 · Q5(d) · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks
Why do ethnic conflicts and insurgencies continue to remain major impediments to regional co-operation in South Asia? -
2022 · Q5(b) · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks
Discuss the ways and means to realise greater economic co-operation among the Member States of South Asia. -
2022 · Q7(b) · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks
What are the implications of 'Look-East' Policy on the north-eastern region of India? -
2021 · Q5(a) · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks
Discuss the strategic implications of India's Look East Policy transforming into Act East Policy. -
2021 · Q7(a) · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks
Why South Asia is considered as the world's politically and economically least integrated region? Explain -
2021 · Q8(a) · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks
Relations between India and Russia are rooted in history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Discuss
More from this topic
Q6(b) · UPSC Mains 2024 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks
Does the idea of the 21st century as 'Asian century' continue to remain feasible given the growing friction between India and China?
India and South Asia
The Asian century meant a shift of growth and weight to Asia with China and India as co-engines. Doklam, Galwan, a hard LAC and Chinese Indian Ocean presence make China India’s central strategic problem. Trade can continue without a political concert; the Quad and BRI are rival organising projects. Economically the shift to Asia can still happen; politically the century looks contested or bipolar, not harmonious. Feasible as theatre of world politics, not as a Sino-Indian team.
Q5(d) · UPSC Mains 2023 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks
Why do ethnic conflicts and insurgencies continue to remain major impediments to regional co-operation in South Asia?
India and South Asia
Insurgency and ethnic war in South Asia routinely cross borders. Sanctuary charges, refugees, and military alerts replace trade talks. SAARC and road-and-port plans stall on insecure stretches, including Afghanistan 2021 and Myanmar 2021. Domestic ethnic politics also block a regional “we.” Cooperation needs a security floor that these conflicts remove.
Q5(b) · UPSC Mains 2023 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks
What are the reasons for lack of 'regionness' in South Asia?
India and South Asia
Regionness is shared political identity plus working institutions. South Asia has a dominant India, a blocked India–Pakistan pair, and Chinese alternatives for smaller States. SAARC consensus cannot produce EU-style spillover. Security is a conflict complex, not a community. BIMSTEC is a work-around that still does not make a South Asian region.
Toppers' copies
Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.