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India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty: Renewal talks begin ahead of December 2026 expiry
India and Bangladesh officials commence talks to renew the India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty ahead of its December 2026 expiry. The treaty governs sharing of Ganges River waters during the dry season and provides operational rules linked to flows at Farakka.
India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Current trigger | Officials from India and Bangladesh commence talks on renewing the treaty ahead of its December 2026 expiry. |
| Date of signing | Signed on December 12, 1996 |
| What it governs | Sharing of the Ganges River waters during the dry season. |
| Purpose / operational location | Sharing of Ganges waters at the Farakka Barrage, which diverts water to India's Hooghly River to maintain Calcutta Port's navigability. |
| Farakka Barrage | Built in 1975 across the Ganges at Farakka, West Bengal. |
| India-Bangladesh transboundary rivers | 54 transboundary rivers that drain through Bangladesh; the Ganges is highly seasonal. |
| Validity and review | Valid for 30 years; subject to review every 5 years or earlier if either government desires; either party can seek the first review after two years to assess the impact. |
| Period of sharing | 10-day periods during the lean season (Jan 1–May 31) every year. |
| Sharing formula | If flow is less than 70,000 cusecs: 50:50 sharing; if flow is 70,000–75,000 cusecs: Bangladesh receives fixed 35,000 cusecs and India gets the remainder; if flow is more than 75,000 cusecs: India gets 75,000 cusecs and Bangladesh receives the balance. |
| Emergency clause | If flow falls below 50,000 cusecs in any 10 days, both governments enter into immediate consultations for emergency adjustments. |
| Data basis | Schedule derived from 40 years of average flow data (1949–1988) applies to the formula governing actual sharing. |
| Fail-safe mechanism | India must release at least 90% of Bangladesh’s share downstream until the next 5-year review. |
| Monitoring mechanism | A Joint Committee with equal representatives from both countries monitors daily flows at the Farakka feeder canal and at the Hardinge Bridge navigation lock, and submits annual reports to both governments. |
| Other India-Bangladesh water sharing arrangements | Kushiyara River Water Sharing Agreement (2022); Feni River MoU (2019); Teesta River Agreement (Proposed, Not Signed). |