India–Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty Renewal Talks 2026 – Exam facts

Why in News?

India and Bangladesh have initiated discussions to renew the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty, which is set to expire in December 2026.

Ganga Water Sharing Treaty:

• The Ganga Water Sharing Treaty was signed on 12 December 1996 for a period of 30 years.
• It regulates water sharing at the Farakka Barrage (West Bengal).
• The agreement focuses on the lean season (January 1 – May 31) when water availability is low.
• Ensures equitable distribution of Ganga waters between India and Bangladesh.

About Ganga River:

• Course: Flows through: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal.
• Key Feature:
  • At West Bengal, it divides into:
    • Bhagirathi–Hooghly (India)
    • Padma (enters Bangladesh)
• Delta:
  • Forms the Sundarbans Delta (largest delta in the world) along with the Brahmaputra before draining into the Bay of Bengal