Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960 by Jawaharlal Nehru, Ayub Khan and a World Bank representative, after years of talks.
How the rivers were divided
| Rivers | Who uses them | |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern rivers | Ravi, Beas, Sutlej (about 33 MAF) | India (full use) |
| Western rivers | Indus, Jhelum, Chenab (about 135 MAF) | Pakistan, with limited Indian rights |
- MAF = million acre-feet.
- India's allowed uses on western rivers: run-of-the-river hydropower, irrigation for a limited area (about 1.34 million acres), limited storage (about 3.6 MAF), and navigation.
- A Permanent Indus Commission (one commissioner from each country) meets and shares data.
- Disputes: a three-step ladder: Commission → Neutral Expert → Court of Arbitration.
Disputes under the treaty
- Baglihar (Chenab): Neutral Expert (2007) largely sided with India.
- Kishanganga: Court of Arbitration (2013) upheld India's right to divert water for power but required minimum flow.
- Tulbul navigation project (Wular): stopped in 1987, a long-standing dispute.
- Pakal Dul, Kiru and Ratle: Pakistan has raised design objections.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.