Indus River

Indus River

Context: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty as a "historic injustice" that allocated over 80% of the river's water to Pakistan and praised its suspension as a corrective measure benefiting Indian farmers. 

Important Pointers:  

  • Origin: Rises from Mansarovar in Tibet at ~5182 m elevation 

  • Length: ~2880 km total; 800.75 km within India 

  • Flows Through: China (Tibet), India (Ladakh), Pakistan 

  • Drainage Area in India: 3,21,289 sq. km (~9.8% of India’s geographical area) 

  • Total Basin Area: ~11,65,500 sq. km (spanning Tibet, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan) 

  • Boundaries: 

  • North – Karakoram & Haramosh ranges 

  • East – Himalayas 

  • West – Sulaiman & Kirthar ranges 

  • South Arabian Sea 

  • Indian Territory: Flows only through the Union Territory of Ladakh 

  • Principal Tributaries: Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum 

  • Utility: Supports agriculture, hydropower, and human consumption 

  • Historical Significance: Cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s earliest urban cultures 

 Indus Waters Treaty (1960):   

  • Signed Between: India and Pakistan 

  • Brokered By: World Bank 

  • Purpose: Water-sharing agreement for the Indus River System 

  • Allocation: 

  • Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) – India 

  • Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) – Pakistan (India allowed limited use) 

  • India's Rights on Western Rivers: Non-consumptive use – e.g., irrigation, hydroelectricity (without altering flow) 

  • Permanent Indus Commission: Bilateral mechanism for cooperation and dispute resolution