**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, which is set to expire in 2026. As of August 1, 2025, high-level technical discussions for the treaty's renewal have not yet commenced between India and Bangladesh. However, technical-level meetings continue to be held under the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) framework to address water-related issues of mutual interest. The most recent meeting occurred in March 2025, facilitating data sharing and joint monitoring. The Government of West Bengal is regularly consulted by the Union Government in preparation for these discussions. An authorized representative from the Government of West Bengal participated in inter-ministerial discussions on October 30, 2023, March 15, 2024, May 31, 2024 and March 26, 2025, where a collective view was formulated. Inputs on drinking water and industrial water requirements have been received from all stakeholders, including the Government of West Bengal, and have been considered in formulating the government's views. The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, provided this information to the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ganga Water Treaty: A bilateral treaty between India and Bangladesh concerning the sharing of the waters of the Ganges River, signed in 1996 and set to expire in 2026.
India: One of the signatory countries to the Ganga Water Treaty, engaged in discussions with Bangladesh regarding its renewal.
Bangladesh: One of the signatory countries to the Ganga Water Treaty, engaged in discussions with India regarding its renewal. A Bangladeshi delegation visited India in March 2025.
SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the question about the renewal of the Ganga Water Treaty.
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: The Indian government ministry responsible for conducting India's foreign relations, including discussions on the Ganga Water Treaty.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs who provided the answer to the question regarding the Ganga Water Treaty.
Joint Rivers Commission (JRC): A framework under which technical-level meetings are held between India and Bangladesh on water-related issues of mutual interest.
West Bengal: A state in India that is a key stakeholder in the Ganga Water Treaty discussions, regularly consulted by the Union Government.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 2210
ANSWERED ON – 01/08/2025
RENEWAL OF THE GANGA WATER TREATY
2210. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Governments of India and Bangladesh have initiated high-
level technical discussions for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty,
which is set to expire in 2026;
(b) if so, the details of the discussions held, including the recent visit of an
11-member Bangladeshi delegation to India in March 2025;
(c) the outcomes of above said meetings at the Farakka Barrage and
subsequent sessions in Kolkata; and
(d) whether the Government of West Bengal, as a neighbouring State and
key stakeholder, has been consulted during these discussions and if so, the
nature of their involvement and the inputs provided?
1ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to d) With regard to the Ganga/Ganges Water Treaty signed in 1996
between India and Bangladesh, bilateral discussions for its renewal are yet
to commence between the two countries.
Under the framework of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC), technical-level
meetings continue to be held with Bangladesh on all water-related issues
of mutual interest. The last such meeting was held in March 2025,
providing a structured platform for data sharing and joint monitoring.
The Government of West Bengal is regularly consulted by the Union
Government in preparing for the aforementioned discussions. An authorised
representative from the Government of West Bengal took part in inter-
ministerial discussions held on the matter on 30 October 2023, 15 March
2024, 31 May 2024 and also on 26 March 2025, where a collective view was
formulated. Inputs on drinking water and industrial water requirements
have also been received from all stakeholders, including from the
2Government of West Bengal, which have been taken into account while
formulating Government’s views.
*****
3