The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan was signed in:

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on 19 September 1960 in Karachi by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan. The World Bank mediated the treaty and is also a signatory.

Background:

• After partition, the rivers of the Indus system flowed from India into Pakistan.
• Disputes arose over the sharing of water for irrigation and other uses.
• The World Bank helped the two countries negotiate a settlement over nearly nine years.

Division of rivers under the treaty:

• Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) were allotted to India for unrestricted use.
• Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) were allotted mainly to Pakistan.
• India is allowed limited use of the western rivers for domestic use, agriculture and run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects, under conditions laid down in the treaty.
• About 20 per cent of the total water of the Indus system goes to India and about 80 per cent to Pakistan.

Dispute resolution mechanism:

• The Permanent Indus Commission, with a commissioner from each country, meets regularly to discuss issues.
• Differences can be referred to a Neutral Expert.
• Disputes can be referred to a Court of Arbitration.

Disputes over projects:

• Pakistan has objected to several Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers, such as Baglihar, Kishanganga and Ratle.
• The Kishanganga dispute was referred to a Court of Arbitration, which allowed India to divert water with some conditions.

Importance of the treaty:

It is often cited as one of the most successful water-sharing treaties in the world, because it survived several wars between the two countries.

Recent developments:

• In 2023, India sought a modification of the treaty.
• In April 2025, after a terror attack in Pahalgam, India announced that it was holding the treaty in abeyance.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1950, 1965 and 1972 do not match the year of the treaty.