India to Factor in Bihar's Concerns Before Renewing 1996 Ganga Water Treaty

Gist External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has assured that Bihar’s interests will be centrally considered before India takes a decision on renewing the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, which expires on December 31, 2026 . Bihar contends that the treaty, historically driven by the 'Gujral Doctrine', has disproportionately hurt the state's water security over the past three decades and should not be renewed without scientific reassessment. This development highlights the growing influence of domestic federal pressures—specifically from lower riparian states—on India's bilateral water-sharing agreements and neighborhood diplomacy. Background The 1996 Ganga Water Treaty is a bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh governing the sharing of the Ganga river's surface waters during the dry season. Signed during the first prime ministerial tenure of Sheikh Hasina, the 30-year treaty is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2026 . Water sharing with Bangladesh has historically been influenced by the 'Gujral Doctrine' —a set of Indian foreign policy principles advocating non-reciprocal, generous concessions to immediate neighbors to build trust and regional stability. The Jal Shakti Ministry is currently the nodal body leading inter-ministerial…